Back to HOMEPAGE Scottish Agricultural Wages Board achieves
the damage it was predicted to achieve
James Irvine
Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, Perthshire
Filed 24 Mar 08
©www.land-care.org.uk
Whether or not the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB)
should continue to exist is reviewed every five years. Since the introduction of the National Minimum Wage legislation in 1999 there has been no purpose in having a SAWB. Nevertheless, since then, at each 5 year review, certain factions have voted that it be retained. Apart from the Unions, in 2001 the organisation then known as the Scottish Landowners Federation (SLF), strangely voted for its continuation, resulting in an outcry from many of its members, including myself who at the time (and prior to my resignation), was a member of Council for its Central Region. It is understood that the SLF representative did not even turn up to vote on a subsequnet occasion. The SLF was later disbanded, reborn under another name.
In 2006, the SAWB was again kept in existence although, to give him his due, the relevant Government Minister of the day in a Labour/LibDem Coalition claimed that he was keen to have it disbanded. He failed, and SAWB continued on its way allegedly on the casting vote of its chairman.
The reason why those who were directly concerned with agriculture failed to get rid of the SAWB was, of course, because SAWB is weighted with six members nominated by T & G Union who apparently had little knowledge of agriculture. But then the Minister himself is in part to blame, as five of SAWB's 17 members are so-called independent persons appointed by Scottish Ministers. As so often the case, those who have the knowledge and the financial responsibility are outvoted by those who don't.
So, with a very shaky mandate, SWAB then proceeded to lay down new rules as to what young, new entrants into Scottish farming were to be paid. There was to be no discrimination according to age. So the minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds was given a big hike up. The SAWB were clearly told that, far from encouraging more young entrants into farming, the opportunities for these young people would be seriously reduced. The farming industry in Scotland could simply not afford to pay persons with very limited experience, plus legal restrictions on what they are permitted to do on a farm, on the same basis as persons over the age of 18 years.
And so it has transpired. Peter Scott, director of farms at Oatbridge College, has stated that the applications for part-time agricultural training courses have plummeted by 50% since the SAWB scrapped the age related pay bands.
This is hardly surprising as the youngsters themselves have clearly, and very publicly, stated that the stance taken by SAWB is counterproductive (2).
While in the past my farm at Cultybraggan, Comrie has taken on 16 year olds, no way would that be possible now. Thanks to a totally unnecessary tier of officious bureaucracy. It is a great shame that other local youngsters will not be able to benefit from working along with those who have invaluable experience and skills. Peter Scott's attempt to provide training for the young through distance learning seems to me to be a very poor substitute. But what else can he do?
©www.land-care.org.uk
References
1. Irvine, James (2006). Scottish Agricultural Wages Board aims another shot at the feet of
Scottish farming
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 26 Oct 06, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View
2. Irvine, James (2007). Landward (BBC Scotland TV) highlights the absurdity of Scotland's Agricultural Wages Board for young would-be entrants to farming
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 28 Jul 07, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View
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