Agricultural Wages

Employers and workers should note –

The Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team (AWET) are Scottish Government officials responsible for dealing with complaints and enforcement issues as they arise and are a neutral body whose job is to review evidence. They are therefore unable to offer advice on individual circumstances and do not act on behalf of the employer or employee when investigating potential breaches of the relevant Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order.

Scottish Agricultural Wages Board

Overview

The Scottish Agricultural Wages Board (SAWB) is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body set up under the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Act 1949.

The Board comprises of 17 members:

6 representing the interests of employers nominated by NFU Scotland and the Scottish Land & Estates.
6 representing the interests of workers nominated by Unite the Union; and
5 independent members appointed by Scottish Ministers, one of whom is designated Chair.

The SAWB usually meets twice a year in order to determine the minimum gross wages payable to agricultural workers and to set conditions for holiday and sick pay entitlement.

The rates of pay which take effect from 1 April 2025 are detailed in the Agricultural wages in Scotland: guide for workers and employers. This guidance for workers and employers details the minimum hourly rates of pay and other terms and conditions for agricultural workers in Scotland.

The application to the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme is an online application.

Workers from the European Union may wish to take note of the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme, which is an online application. The Home Office guidance on the Scheme provides information on who is eligible to apply and what applicants need to prove..

The Scottish Government has also produced some materials to support those applying to the EU Settlement Scheme, including a guide for employers.

If a worker believes that they are not being paid in accordance with the Order, then they should contact:

Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team,
Saughton House,
Broomhouse Drive,
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD,

Tel No: 0750 0994734 / 0791 9335259
E-mail: AWET@gov.scot

Agricultural Wages Enforcement Team

Scottish Government Agricultural Wages Inspectors will carry out random checks at employers' places of business, both by way of routine spot checks and in response to complaints made by individual workers about their pay and conditions. These visits will involve interviews with the employer and one or more workers, and a check of records relating to pay, holidays, hours worked, etc.

Where the Agri Wages Enforcement Team considers that a worker has not received their full entitlement, the employer will be advised of the problem in writing and invited to remedy the position. If an acceptable solution cannot be agreed, then the matter may have to be referred to an Employment Tribunal for settlement.

Fair Work First Criteria

Fair Work First is the Scottish Government's flagship policy for driving high quality and fair work across the labour market in Scotland by applying fair work criteria to grants, other funding and contracts being awarded by and across the public sector, where it is relevant to do so. Further information can be found here.

Supporting Documents

Agricultural Wages in Scotland Twenty Ninth Edition: A Guide for Workers and Employers

The Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (No. 72) 2025

Appendix 1 - Sample Timesheets

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