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Welsh Government given power to set farmers' wages

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Welsh Government will be able to set minimum wages and benefits for agriculture workers. The Agricultural Bill will now become law.

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'Sloppy' law bad for farming say Tories

The Conservatives have said the Welsh law on farm workers' wages, which has survived a challenge in the Supreme Court, is sloppy legislation, which caused doubts about whether it was valid and months of uncertainty for farmers.

Welsh Conservatives continue to believe that the Agricultural Wages Board is all about jobs for the boys on another quango. It is out-dated, complicated, and scrapping it puts farmers on an equal footing with other Welsh employers.

– Antoinette Sandbach, Conservative AM for North Wales

Plaid Cymru argued that the Supreme Court case shows the need for an improved devolution settlement. The party also claimed that the Welsh Government should have been more ambitious when it asked the Assembly to pass the legislation.

Plaid Cymru has always welcomed the establishment of a Welsh Agricultural Wages Board. More than 14,000 agricultural workers could be affected by this decision.

I want to see a new board with a much broader remit so that it can play a role in driving forward skills and training, and promoting careers in the agriculture industry.

Plaid Cymru attempted to amend the bill in order to outlaw the use of zero-hour contracts in the sector, but the Labour Welsh Government voted against stating that it would risk having the legislation challenged in the Supreme Court. This happened anyway.

– Llyr Gruffydd AM, Plaid Cymru communities and food spokesperson
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Welsh Government given power to set farmers' wages

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