United Kingdom (GB)

Employment
Wages
Working Time
Leave
Social Insurance
Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation

Employment

192,000 workers are employed in agriculture and forestry in the United Kingdom. 60,000 are full-time employees in agriculture and horticulture, and 120,000 persons are seasonal workers.

table International Comparison of Employment

In the United Kingdom the Agriculture Wages Board (AWB) negotiates and decides every year on the minimum wage and the working conditions. The AWB is made up of eight members of TGWU (trade union), eight employer representatives, and five independent members nominated by the government. There are three AWBs: one for England and Wales, one for Scotland and one for Northern Ireland.

The average wage in agriculture is € 8.60. Employees play 11.5 %, and employers pay 12.80 % of the wage as welfare insurance contributions.

The minimum tax rate is 10 %, the basic tax rate 22 %, and the maximum income tax rate is 44 %. The rate depends on the income level.

table International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs

Working Time

39 hours per week on 5 days. According to collective agreements the weekly working time may vary between 4 and 6 days per week, but the maximum number of working hours per day is 10. A 50 % bonus is paid for overtime. (The overtime bonus is 150% of the minimum hourly wage).

table International Comparison of Working Time

Leave and Paid Holidays

Two weeks in the first year, 4 weeks plus one day after the first year. There are 8 public holidays.

table International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays

Social Insurance

Welfare insurance is a state system financed by contributions. The health system (National Health Service) is financed by contributions and tax.

Occupational Health and Safety

There is a governmental contribution-free (tax-financed) system that insures all employees. Accidents on the way to and from work are usually not covered. The Union exerts its influence in the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC), which promotes prevention at the workplace.

table International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety

Trade Union Influence

Workers who are members of a trade union that is recognised by the employer are entitled to adequate paid time off work for certain trade union activities. Employees with trade union functions are entitled to paid time off work for certain trade union activities. The trade union has 18,000 organised members.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Influence

Minimum Standards

There is a statutory minimum wage in the United Kingdom (Cf. Table). The price index in the United Kingdom is about 15 % higher than the EU average.

table International Comparison of Minimum Standards

Trade Union Participation

At the national level trade unions are involved in the work of the Agriculture Wages Board. At the company level there are shop stewards (comparable to works councils or company trade unions). In vocational training the trade unions are members in the education fund with parity membership and in the test council (NPTC). In the field of occupational health and safety they take part in the AIAC.

TGWU is engaged in many initiatives in rural areas, i.e. rural agencies, environmental and agricultural initiatives with the aim of a sustainable rural economy and paid local jobs.

table International Comparison of Trade Union Participation

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