AN ANGRY Labour MP has complained that the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board is going ahead without ever being properly debated in the House of Commons.
Mary Creagh, the MP for Wakefield, said: “How can it be right for a proposal that will undermine wages for many rural workers to be enacted without this House ever having the chance to debate and challenge the Government on these proposals?”
The abolition of the Board was added as an late amendment to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill while it was being considered by the House of Lords, and after the Bill had been discussed by MPs.
On Tuesday MPs had a chance to consider amendments to the Bill but were under a time constraint.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady added to the criticism, saying: “This Bill is a direct attack on agricultural workers and has been sped through the House without any proper debate on its likely impact.
“The Government’s own figures show that getting rid of the AWB could see wages in the agricultural industry fall by £13 million, with many farm workers and their families strongly relying upon it to stay above the breadline.
“We are also worried that removing the minimum sick pay entitlements set by the board will mean that farm workers will return from illness before they are properly fit. Agriculture accounts for a quarter of all workplace deaths with 41 people killed last year alone.”
