Law Society welcomes retention of Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

The Law Society of Scotland has welcomed the announcement from Rural Affairs Secretary, Richard Lochhead, that the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board is to be retained.

The Society’s equalities law committee recommended that the Board continue to protect the pay and conditions of agricultural workers in its response to the Scottish Government’s consultation in July last year.

Rory McPherson, convener of the Law Society of Scotland’s equalities law committee, said: “More workers in agriculture are paid at or near the minimum wage in comparison with other sectors and the UK National Minimum Wage provides only residual protection for low paid workers. The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board plays an important role in protecting the pay and conditions of agricultural workers and there is no evidence to suggest that abolishing or restricting the remit of the Board would result in any benefit or enhanced employment conditions for those workers.”

ENDS                                                                          6 January 2016

Notes to editors:

The Law Society’s full response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board can be found on our website: /for-the-public/law-reform-consultations-and-bills/consultations-2015/equalities-law/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Journalists can contact Sarah Sutton sarahsutton@lawscot.org.uk or Val McEwan valeriemcewan@lawscot.org.uk