Rural wages

This month we’ve seen two wage increases that will really benefit people on the lowest incomes in rural Wales- from 1st October the majority of agricultural workers will now earn more than £6 per hour following a 4.3% pay increase. Unite the Union fought hard for the increase, which was agreed by the Agricultural Wages Board, and it is a step in the right direction for a sector which needs to offer people a proper wage. The National Minimum Wage also went up this month to £5.73 per hour, again raising the incomes of 50,000 working people across Wales. In the Assembly we had a lively debate about the condition of our rural communities. Wages, together with the availability of affordable housing and the need for more affordable and practicable transport, was highlighted in the recent report on rural deprivation as something which seriously affects people’s quality of life in rural communities.

When I had a chance to speak with the UK Rural Affairs Minister Huw Irranca-Davies we focussed on the need to close the gap between wages in rural areas and the rest of Wales. At a time of global financial turbulence, when we are feeling the effects of the credit crunch, improving the wages of the lowest paid can really benefit everyone - higher wages means more money spent locally and being ploughed back into the local economy. This month’s pay rises have brought us much closer to achieving fair pay for rural workers and people are now talking about a Living Wage for Wales. A few weeks ago I attended a reception to promote the ‘Living Wage campaign’, which follows hot on the heels of the London Living Wage campaign. Unison and TCC are heading calls for a Welsh Wage to improve the lot of every worker in Wales and boost the Welsh economy - I’m sure it’s a campaign we’ll be hearing a lot about over the next few weeks and months.