Taking the initiative and raising wages

THE ANC in the Western Cape welcomes the initiative by various farmers to break away from paying farmworkers only R69 a day, according to Ellen Prins, the party’s spokeswoman on agriculture in the provincial legislature.

“It is interesting that farmers claim they cannot pay more than the minimum, but also want government to determine a higher wage,” said Prins.

She claimed that farmers were cutting wages back in De Doorns – in some cases almost halving the remuneration of their workers and other farmers, forcing their farmworkers to work one and a half shifts (12 hours a day) for the minimum daily wage for eight hours of work, without any overtime.

The minimum wage without overtime payment for a 6am to 6pm shift should be at least R105 a day, she said.

“Other problems are assaults, evictions and dismissal of workers talking about wages. These feudal and Dark Age attitudes, observed in too many cases, are unacceptable. Inspections and research indicate that up to two-thirds of farmers in the province do not adhere to labour legislation. This means enforcement and more frequent strict inspections are needed to bring all in line with progressive farmers,” Prins added.

The ANC said there was nothing preventing farmers from paying their workers better and sharing their profits with the workers.