Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales, which was established a year ago under the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014, has considered new minimum wage rates for agricultural workers in Wales. It has also considered skills and career development within the sector.
I am grateful to the Panel for preparing a new wages order in draft and submitting it to me for approval. I have referred the draft Order back to the Panel for consideration and resubmission to me. Until any new wages order comes into force, agricultural workers in Wales will continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2016.
The increase to the UK National Minimum Wage and the UK National Living Wage rates on 1 April impacts on the wages of some farm workers in Wales. The table below summarises the changes in respect of agricultural workers employed at Grades 1 and 2
| Grade | Minimum Hourly Rate from 1 April 2017 |
| Grade 1: 25 and over: | £7.50 |
| Grade 1: 21-24: | £7.05 |
| Grade 1: 16-20: | £6.72 |
| Grade 2 (aged 25 and over) | £7.50 |
All other categories and grades of workers will be subject to the rates specified by the Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order 2016. The rates for apprentices will also remain unchanged. More information on the applicable wages can be found at the Welsh Government’s website at:
http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/agricultural-sector-wales-act-2014/interim-order/?skip=1&lang=en.