Government is wrong to abolish Agricultural Wages Board, says TUC

date: 17 April 2013

embargo: For immediate release

The TUC has today (Wednesday) slammed ministers for refusing to discuss proposals to save the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB), during the final debate on the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill last night.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'This Bill is a direct attack on agricultural workers and has been sped through the House without any proper debate on its likely impact.

'The government's own figures show that getting rid of the AWB could see wages in the agricultural industry fall by £13 million, with many farm workers and their families strongly relying upon it to stay above the breadline.

'We are also worried that removing the minimum sick pay entitlements set by the board will mean that farm workers will return from illness before they are properly fit. Agriculture accounts for a quarter of all workplace deaths with 41 people killed last year alone.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) for England and Wales brings together employers and unions to set wages and conditions for 150,000 agricultural employees.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk