Labour on dismissals in agricultural sector in Mpumalanga

Wage hike no excuse for mass farm dismissals, says Commission
for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)

3 March 2006

The minimum wage cannot be the biggest factor driving dismissals in the
agricultural sector in Mpumalanga, the CCMA has said.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) signing off of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) in the sector Glen Cormack, the CCMA senior commissioner in
the province said there were only 600 cases of unfair dismissal in the sector
from April last year to date.

“Most of these unfair dismissal cases related to theft, misconduct, poor
performance and incapacity. Contrary to reports, the minimum wage is not a
factor driving dismissals in the agriculture sector,” Cormark said.

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said many farmers were happy with the
current minimum wage.

The latest minimum wage prescribed for Area A (annual average house hold
income of more than R24 000) is R994 per month and Area B (annual average house
hold income of less than), R885 per month. Increases for the second year are R1
041 per month and R989 per month for Area A and B respectively.

In the third year of application all farm workers will earn the same minimum
wage rate of R1 090 per month. “In fact, the majority of farmers have welcomed
the minimum wages, a clear indication that it is not the scourge it has been
made out to be,” the Minister said.

Minister Mdladlana inspected several farms in the Komatipoort area to gauge
the level of compliance with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

This visit will culminate in the signing of the MoU between the government,
organised labour and employers.

Enquiries:
Mokgadi Pela
Cell: 082 808 2168

Issued by: Department of Labour
3 March 2006

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