Farming

Working in farming

Employee advice

If you are employed or engaged in agriculture certain obligations fall upon your employer – whether farmer, gangmaster, employment agency or any other type of employer – to ensure your rights as an employee are met.

You have rights in a number of areas including:

  • wages
  • terms and conditions of employment
  • working hours
  • deductions from pay
  • agencies
  • holidays
  • health and safety

Employee rights exist whether your employment is full time, part time, casual, seasonal or temporary (short-term). Specific sources of guidance for these are detailed below:

  • general employee information
  • seasonal agricultural workers
  • daily worker contracts
  • temporary work/gangmasters
  • vocational training scheme

Wages and workers’ rights

If you are employed in agriculture, your minimum rate of pay and conditions of work are set by the Agricultural Wages Board (AWB). See the Agricultural Wages Board pages on this site for further information.

The AWB is responsible for the Agricultural Wages Order (AWO). It is enforced by Defra and covers wages, holiday and sick pay entitlements. It also covers aspects of tied accommodation for agricultural employees. Full details are available in the Agricultural Wages Order available on our Agricultural Wages pages.

If you have a query or would like a free copy of the Agricultural Wages Order telephone the Agricultural Wages helpline on 08450 000 134 or write to the Agricultural Wages Team (AWT) at:

Area 3A
Ergon House
Horseferry Road
London, SW1P 2AL

You should note that any queries about how the provisions of the AWO should be applied are dealt with by the AWT.

Adult pay rates for agricultural work are based upon a six-tier structure. From 1 October 2006 the rates for workers aged 16 and over are:

  • Grade 1 Basic trainee £5.35 per hour
  • Grade 2 Standard worker £5.74 per hour
  • Grade 3 Lead worker £6.31 per hour
  • Grade 4 Craft worker £6.77 per hour
  • Grade 5 Supervisory grade £7.18 per hour
  • Grade 6 Farm management grade £7.75 per hour

These rates apply until a new Order is made.

Advice on your rights and how you can expect them to be enforced is offered in Defra’s Minimum Wages for Agricultural Workers (PFD document, 28K).

Membership organisations

The Transport and General Workers’ Union (T&GWU) offers advice and help to its members engaged in agriculture and horticulture.

Non-specialist advice

An extensive section of general advice on employee issues can be found on the Government’s public services website, Directgov.

The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has a section of its website dedicated to employment standards and employee rights. To find contact details for your nearest CAB office, enter your postcode into the Find a CAB tool on the CAB website.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also provides a wide range of guidance leaflets through the Employment Relations directorate, including Know your rights: Employment relations information for workers.

Alternatively you can telephone the DTI enquiry line 02072 155 000.

Disputes

If you think you have received less than you are entitled to under the provisions of the AWO you should contact the AWT on 08450 000 134.  If your dispute involves an area not covered by the AWO you should contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

ACAS is a publicly-funded organisation dedicated to preventing and resolving employment disputes. It offers a free advice service. For details see the ACAS website or call the ACAS helpline on 08457 474 747.

If you are having a dispute with your employer, you may qualify for free or subsidised legal help (legal aid). Community Legal Service Direct (CLSD) has a legal aid calculator to help you find out whether you are eligible.

If you think you qualify for legal aid, you can find out more on the CLSD website or by telephoning the CLSD helpline 08453 454 345. The CLSD can send you free information leaflets and provide contact details of your nearest appropriate legal adviser.

Seasonal agricultural workers

If you are a student looking for seasonal work in the UK and you are from outside the European Economic Area you can apply under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) which is run by Work Permits (UK), part of the Home Office. They will be able to advise on the required procedures and whether or not a work permit is required.

Daily Worker Contracts

You may find that you are offered agricultural work on a ‘daily casual contract’ basis, especially if you are doing a mix of manual harvest work (paid at the lower manual harvest rate) and other work (paid at a higher rate). If this occurs it may be worth seeking legal advice as it should be being paid at the higher rate.

See Defra’s ‘Advice from Defra on Daily Worker Contracts’ (PDF document, 8K) leaflet for further guidance on this.

Gangmasters

A statutory licensing scheme for labour providers operating in agriculture, shellfish gathering and the food processing and packaging sectors was introduced by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority in April 2006. See our gangmasters licensing section for further information.

This scheme  requires labour providers operating in these sectors to obtain a licence from  the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA). From October 2006 it will be illegal for a labour provider to operate in these sectors without a licence. For further details see the GLA website which has a section specifically offering guidance to workers.

The public is able to access a public register from the GLA website to find out whether a labour provider has a current licence. To contact the GLA, telephone 08456 025 020.

Rural Development Funding

The England Rural Development Programme, which provided a range of funding for rural areas, closed at the end of 2006.  The socio-economic schemes, the Rural Enterprise Scheme, the Vocational Training Scheme and the Processing and Marketing Grant, closed to new applications at the end of June 2006. [Further information]  The new Rural Development Programme for England will take forward rural development funding, including funding for training, for the period 2007-2013.

Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has produced an essential booklet – ‘The Farmwise Guide' – which covers the legal obligations, recommendations for good practice, hints and tips, and safeguards to minimise the risks around the farm.

The HSE recommends that if you are involved in farming, either as an employer, employee or self employed, you should carry an up to date health carry card.

Useful links

Defra
External

Further information

  • Defra helpline – 08459 335 577
  • Agricultural wages helpline – 0845 0000 134
  • ACAS helpline – 08457 474 747

Page last modified: 18 October 2007
Page published: 1 July 2006

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs