Farm life improves as pay increases

Fairtrade agreement benefits workers

INTERNATIONAL trade organisations are keeping Western Cape farmers on their toes and at the same time benefiting farmworkers. The improved working conditions on farms, supported by figures from the Western Cape Agri Worker Census, is largely due to international pressure from Fairtrade International.

Fairtrade supports more than 700 000 farmers and workers through 410 producer organisations in 29 countries across the continent. South Africa became part of Fairtrade in 2011 along with several local wine and food producers.

Eric Fichtl, digital content manager at Fairtrade, said the agreement benefits farmers and workers by providing a minimum price for products sold on Fairtrade terms.

“And by providing the Fairtrade Premium, which is an extra sum of money, paid on top of the selling price, farmers or workers earn money to invest in projects of their choice. They decide together how to spend the Fairtrade Premium to reach their goals, such as improving their farming, businesses, or health and education in their community. The Fairtrade Minimum Price provides producers with the stability and security they need to plan for their future.

According to Carmen Louw, co-director of Women on Farms, workers, whose farmers subscribe to Fair Trade International have access to DStv.

“I’m aware of the DStv availability on many farms. They normally get the funding from Fair Trade. They (Fairtrade) would install the service either on individual homes or via a communal point,” she said.

The Western Cape Agri Worker Census shows that 2 951 households (27.7%) own a car, 2 156 own a bakkie or truck and 2 049 have home internet access. The report indicates that 2 525 of households surveyed have a cellphone contract while 4 738 household have pay TV. Louw disputed the figures, saying in practice they are far different.

Alan Winde, MEC for Economic Opportunities and Agriculture, said the study spoke of permanent farmworkers “who have become part of the farming family” and not necessarily of seasonal workers.

“The challenge is the seasonal workers who come and go as the seasons change,” Winde said.

Nosey Pieterse, president of the Black Association of the Wine and Spirit Industry, said the situation has significantly improved.

“The prevalence of the dop-system (payment with alcohol) has dropped. People are getting paid better. There are, however, problems with farm evictions and other social problems.”