Introduction of the Manual Harvest Worked to the Agricultural Wages Order 2003

The new agricultual wages order 2003 (1) has been released, the order applies from the 7th July this year, and sees the introduction of the new Manual Harvest Worker rate. the starter rate category from the 2002 order is no longer included in the new paper and from the 7th July, all workers paid under the starter rate should be paid at the appropriate minimum wage rate within the category they are employed in the 2003 act. The majority of workers on UK farms will find themselves classes as either a manual harvest worker or a standard worker. The rates for these are:

Standards worker
From 7/7/03 (19+) £5.10 per hour, overtime £7.65
From 1/10/03 (19+) £5.15 per hour, overtime £7.73

Manual Harvest Workers
From 7/7/03 (19+) £4.30 per hour, overtime £6.45
From 1/10/03 (19+) £4.50 per hour, overtime £6.75

A Manual Harvest Worker (MHW) can be asked to manually sever consumable produce from the land or plant on which it was grown. In addition he/she can be asked to place produce in a container or carry produce on the land where it was grown / harvested. they can also undertake work that is ancillary to and in support of harvesting, if harvesting work has already been undertaken by the worker on that day.

A MHW can not be paid as MHW for more than thirty weeks (ex holiday taken) in each 12 month manual harvest worker period for the same employer.

SAWS workers can only be paid as a MHW is he/she employed exclusively to undertake manual harvest work.

Employers can obtain advice from: national Farmers Union (members) call 0870 845 8458 or AWB team 0845 000 0134.

Summer 2003