Changes to holiday arrangements in the 2007 Agricultural Wages Order for England and Wales will lead to significant labour cost increases and confusion across the sector.

David Camp, director of the Association of Labour Providers, says: “The Agricultural Wages Order has failed to keep pace with the changing nature of the workplace, particularly with regard to temporary workers supplied by labour providers.  It should provide clarity and concise guidance; however, it merely serves to confuse labour providers and labour users alike.

"The time has come for the Agricultural Wages Board to take account of the vast numbers of temporary agency workers working in the sector and produce an Order that helps - not hinders - the industry.”