NFUS says pay rise plan is 'fair and reasonable'

A PROPOSAL to raise farm workers wages by 2.5 per cent from the beginning of October and give an additional one day's holiday per year was yesterday described by NFU Scotland as "fair and reasonable."

The proposal by the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board has to be ratified at its next meeting in mid August but union policy director Scott Walker said the increase recognised the difficult time agricultural employees were facing as the cost of living was rising steeply.

"Farm businesses have to deal with considerable volatility in terms of input and running costs, and yet the supply chain dictates the cost of the goods they sell. This means that many farm businesses operate on a wafer thin margin," he said.

"Given the overall position within the industry and the rising costs faced by employees, this is a fair and reasonable outcome."