The Department of Labour's (DoL) round of public hearings on the farmworkers' minimum wage review is coming to the Free State this weekend, as part of the scheduled consultative process in the sector to help quell violent strikes in the farming sector.
The latest round of consultations will be held on Saturday (8 Dec) at 10h00 in at Cawood Hall in Bothaville for both employers and employees. The hearings are expected to have an impact on the present sectoral determination (SD) for thousands of farm workers.
The Department of Labour decided to bring forward the consultative process for the review to help quell the deteriorating situation on the farms that is threatening to spiral nationally. This, after several hundreds of workers from De Doorns, Western Cape, downed tools, embarking on a two-week violent industrial action. The workers are demanding a daily rate of R150.
The employment of farm workers is governed by legislation which set the determination of conditions of employment. The sectoral determination deals with matters relating to minimum wages, number of leave days, working hours and termination rules among others.
In terms of section 56(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), it is stipulated that the provisions of sectoral determination remain binding until they are amended or suspended by a new or amended SD, or they are cancelled or suspended by the Minister.
In terms of the same law the Minister can only review the sectoral determination once it has been in place for a period of at least 12 months. The current determination is binding until the end of February 2013.
The first in a series of national public hearings kicked off on 22 November in Worcester, Western Cape for both employers and employees. Through the hearings the department would collate information to answer the key questions - that of the ability of employers to afford the high wages and their effects on business.
Once the public hearings have been concluded, the Employment Conditions Commission (ECC) - a body composed of government representatives, labour unions, and employers that advises the minister on wages and other conditions of employment - will compile a document and make recommendations.
The hearings will then proceed to Ottosdal’s Witfontein Matlhapi in the North West on 9-10 December, for employees and employers respectively. Both hearings will kick off at 10 am.
On 11 December a joint public hearing for both employers and employees will be held at 18h00 at Keimoes City Hall in the Northern Cape. On 12 December another joint hearing for both employers and employees will be held in KwaMhlushwa, Mpumalanga province at a venue yet to be confirmed.
The hearings will conclude on 13 December at 18:00, with simultaneous presentations in both Barkly East Town Hall, next to Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape and at Tshwane sports centre, Church Street, Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng.
For more information contact:
Titus Mtswene
Cell: 083 521 0917
