Agricultural wages: guide for workers and employers - twenty eighth edition

1. Important Notes

The information contained in this Guide is provided as guidance only. It should not be seen as providing legal advice on the Order or on legal matters generally. If you are unclear about the terms or the effect of the Order, you should contact your legal adviser.

The Order makes provisions for all workers except those who are of ‘school age’, within the meaning of section 31 and 33 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. This Guide does not, therefore, apply to persons who are required by law to attend school.

For convenience, the main entries in the Guide have been cross-referenced back to the corresponding sections of Wages Order No. 71. These cross-references are shown in italics and are placed in brackets, e.g.:

Rates of Pay (Parts 2 and 3)

Who gets paid what? (Articles 5, 6 and 7)

The rates of pay quoted in this Guide relate to the minimum rates set from 1 April 2024. New rates will be introduced with effect from 1 April 2024 and if this edition of the Guide is being used after that date, care must be taken to apply any revised rates quoted in subsequent Wages Orders.

The Order contains important definitions of commonly used terms and explains certain other features of the Order. The definitions and explanations are contained in Part 1 of the Order.

The Order sets out the minimum rates of pay and other conditions to which workers are entitled by law. Employers may, at their discretion, pay more than these minimum rates or offer better conditions of service. Any such rates and conditions agreed by the employer and the worker will be due as a matter of contract law.