asked the Minister for Agriculture if there is anything in the Agricultural Wages Act, 1936 (or in any other enactment) which would prevent the Agricultural Wages Board from making an order prescribing a minimum rate of wages generally (or for certain specified areas) for a five day 45-hour week for agricultural workers.
Written Answers. - Agricultural Wages.
60.
I am advised that the answer to the question is "No" but that it would be a matter for the Agricultural Wages Board to determine whether it would be proper for them to make such an Order having regard to existing conditions of employment. I am further advised that it is not within the competence of the Board to make an Order fixing the number of days or hours on which a worker may work.
61.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if there is anything in Act No. 26 of 1952 (or in any other enactment) which would prevent the Agricultural Wages Board from prescribing a minimum rate of wages for a five and a half day week of (i) 45 hours or (ii) 50 hours, with an overtime rate in respect of time worked after one o'clock p.m. on the half-holiday.
I am advised that there is nothing to prevent the Board from prescribing a minimum rate of wages for a five and a half day week of either 45 hours or 50 hours, provided, however, that such conditions are found to be prevalent in contracts between agricultural employers and agricultural workers.
Even if such conditions were found to be prevalent, it would be improper for the Board to attempt to prescribe any minimum overtime rate in respect of time worked after the hour of 1 p.m. on the half-holiday, except by fixation of a minimum amount under Section 8 of the Agricultural Workers (Weekly Half-Holidays) Act, 1952 (No. 26 of 1952).