UK Parliament / Open data

Agricultural Wages Board

Proceeding contribution from Mary Creagh (Labour) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 24 April 2013. It occurred during Opposition day on Agricultural Wages Board.

They are certainly driven by ideology, although the ideology of the Minister of State seems to have changed from when he was a Back Bencher, now that he enjoys the privilege of a Government car. I do not know what has changed for him.

Without the AWB, farm workers will be worse off. As my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Andy Sawford) said, there will be no minimum wage for children under 16. Seasonal workers will lose their entitlement to their own bed, which is currently guaranteed by the board. The cap on the amount employers can charge workers for tied accommodation, currently £4.82 a day for a caravan, will be removed. Some 42,000 casual workers will see their pay cut to the minimum wage as soon as they finish their current job. The rest will see their wages eroded over time.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
561 c925 
Session
2012-13
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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