The NFU has urged farmers to oppose the pay rises contained in the provisional wages order released this week by taking advantage of the confirmation period which runs to August 23.

The proposed wage rises will increase pressure on the already strained financial position of many farmers by lumbering them with significant increases in the cost of employing casual farm labour.

The rises will come into force in October unless sufficient opposition can be generated to attract the government's attention.

Under the proposals, wages for a casual worker will increase from £4.10 per hour for a maximum of 20 weeks, to £4.30 for a new maximum of 12 weeks, then to a massive £4.91 for subsequent hours.

It would therefore cost 10.8 per cent more to employ a casual worker for 39 hours a week for 20 weeks with the overall cost to farmers and growers of the new wage increases estimated at £100 million over a nine–month period.

The increase in casual farm wages is brought even more sharply into focus when these new rates are compared to the £4.20 national minimum wage for all other employees outside agriculture, and to the much lower levels which competitors from other EU countries will be required to pay.

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