General Election 2015: Labour pledges to boost earnings of agricultural workers
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Version 0 of 1. Labour will pledge to boost the earnings of agricultural workers when the party unveils its “rural manifesto.” A new taskforce to tackle low pay and safeguard conditions for farm workers would be set up if Labour wins power, to fill the gap left by the Coalition Government’s decision to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board. The new body would be “industry-led.” Are you undecided about who to vote for on 7 May? Are you confused about what the parties stand for and what they are offering? Take this interactive quiz to help you decide who to vote for... Click here to launch According to the Labour document, families in rural areas spend more than £3,500 a year more than those living in urban areas. Transport costs are more than £1,000 a year higher in the countryside, while childcare costs more than £600 annually than in towns and cities. Other Labour pledges include giving rural communities more power over their bus services; giving the supermarket regulator more powers to help farmers; more affordable housing in rural areas and all parts of the country to receive high-speed broadband by 2020. Maria Eagle, the shadow Environment Secretary, said: “The Tory plan is failing hardworking families in rural Britain. Wages are over £4,500 lower than those in urban areas, while at the same time many rural families face higher living costs.” |