Farm workers being exploited

THE Food and Allied Workers Union (Fawu) in Limpopo has raised concerns over the rampant exploitation of labourers, especially those situated in remote rural areas.

Speaking to Sowetan, Fawu provincial secretary Nelson Semenya said the rights of workers continued to be trampled on by farmers who do not want to follow labour laws.

In South Africa, employment on farms is regulated by Sectoral Determination 13 signed into law by minister of labour in terms of the Basic Condition of Employment Act. The Sectoral Determination lays out employment conditions including minimum wage and leave days for workers in that sector.

Semenya said in most cases these laws were being ignored by employers, resulting in workers being forced to work long hours while living under bad conditions.

“The situation on the farms is horrible,” he said.

Semenya said in some instances workers were required to pay rent for accommodation which is deducted from their salaries despite the living quarters being filthy and dilapidated.

He said decent transport for farm workers was also a concern. “There is no acceptable mode of transport for workers. They are packed like tomatoes and potatoes at the back of trucks and bakkies,” Semenya said.

He said in some instances farmers hired undocumented foreign nationals because they were less likely to report unfair labour practices, as they fear they will be deported. Spokesman at the Department of Labour Mokgadi Pela said inspectors from the department sometimes conducted unannounced inspections on farms. Pela said although some farmers complied with regulations, some were failing to follow the law, resulting in the department taking them to court.

He urged members of the public to report unfair labour practices.