Agricultural Wages Board

The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB) was a non-departmental government body which regulated minimum wages for farm workers in England and Wales. The AWB was abolished in the Conservative led government's "bonfire of the quangos" after the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (ERRA).

History

The Agricultural Wages Board was re-established in 1948, by the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act 1947,[1][2] and empowered by the Agricultural Wages Act 1948, after it had been abolished by the Agriculture Act 1920. The Macdonald ministry had attempted to restore the Board through Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act 1924.

The AWG was intended to be a leading force in setting a strong minimum wage for farmworkers. Instead often only served as a safety net for the most vunerable workers.[1]

Bonfire of the quangos

In 2013, during the so-called "bonfire of the quangos" by the Cameron–Clegg government, the AWB was one of many governmental bodies listed to be abolished by the ERRA.[3]

The move was supported by the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats. As well, the National Farmers' Union, which had lobbied against the AWB since its formation, also supported the AWB's abolition.[4][5]

The move was opposed by Unite the Union, and the Labour Party.[3][6][7] Unite's General Secretary Len McCluskey said the AWB's abolition would drive pay down further, at the benefit of supermarkets.[6][7] Liberal Democrats' Spokesman for Agriculture Andrew George[8][9] was one of two Lib Dem rebels who voted for a pro-AWB amendment to the ERRA.[10] George described the plans for abolition as regrettable, and stated it would damage the pay and conditions of agricultural workers.[3]

Welsh Assembly court case

In August that year, the Welsh Assembly passed the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill in an attempt to maintain a regulatory body within Wales for agricultural wages. Despite the bill passing in the Assembly, it was blocked by then UK Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, who claimed it was not a devolved matter.[11] The dispute went to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favour of the Welsh Assembly.[12][13][14] The bill entered into law as the Agricultural Sector (Wales) Act 2014 (anaw 6), and resulted in the creation of the Agricultural Advisory Panel for Wales.[13][15]

Board composition

As of 2012, the Agricultural Wages Board consisted of 21 members and was appointed as such:[16]

Counterparts

Each of the devolved countries in the United Kingdom currently maintains a counterpart to the AWB:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Newby, Howard (1987). Country Life: A Social History of Rural England. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. pp. 205–210. ISBN 978-0-297-79063-1.
  2. ^ "Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act 1947", Government of the United Kingdom, 1947 c. 15
  3. ^ a b c "Labour calls for Agricultural Wages Board not to be abolished". BBC News. 24 April 2013.
  4. ^ Monbiot, George (8 July 2013). "The National Farmers' Union secures so much public cash yet gives nothing back". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  5. ^ "MPs urged to continue support on AWB abolition". www.nfuonline.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b "AWB's abolition another government assault on workers". www.unitetheunion.org. 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b "UK: Abolition of Agricultural Wages Board slammed by union as "assault on working people"". East Anglian Daily Times. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  8. ^ "About". Andrew George MP. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Lib Dems deny Tory farm policy rift". Farmers Weekly. 27 September 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board". www.publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Farm wages bill blocked by UK Attorney General". BBC News. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Wages row affecting Welsh farmers reaches Supreme Court". BBC News. 17 February 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Ministers can protect farm wages following court ruling". BBC News. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  14. ^ Agricultural Sector (Wales) Bill - Reference by the Attorney General for England and Wales, UKSC 43 (Supreme Court of the United Kingdom 2014).
  15. ^ Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament. Education (Wales) Act 2014 as amended (see also enacted form), from legislation.gov.uk.
  16. ^ "The Agricultural Wages (England and Wales) Order 2012: A guide for workers and employers" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. United Kingdom Government. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2024.