The MEC for Agriculture, Land reform and Rural Development, Mr Norman Shushu, will host the Farm Workers Summit as part of celebrating and recognising the role of farm workers in the broader labour market in the country.
This is part of the national programme of action by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries working together with the provincial departments of agriculture and other stakeholders, across the country starting from this month.
The objectives of the summits include among others: to provide a platform for engagement and dialogue among the stakeholders on issues pertaining mainly to farm workers, farm owners and farm dwellers; to develop a common programme with clear goals, give voice to farm workers and address the challenges they are faced with on daily basis.
The Northern Cape provincial summit will be held in Kimberley. Among participating stakeholders the summits will include: Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Agriculture Northern Cape (Agri-NK), National African Farmers Union (NAFU), the departments of labour and human settlements.
Together with domestic workers farm workers are some of the most vulnerable section of the South African working class. Whilst a number of measures including legislation have been put in place to protect them, most still do not enjoy some of the most basic social achievements of the democratic dispensation, such better wages and improved and fair conditions of employment.
Most farm workers depend on the sectoral determination to receive a minimum wage and other minimum standards. They do not feel connected to the sector in terms of job fulfilment and career paths. The fragile economic situation has not been helped by recent developments in the industry.
From having been one of the labour absorptive sectors in the economy, the industry has shed hundreds of thousands of jobs. There is therefore not only the challenge of decent work in the industry, but the challenge of work in general. There are several other challenges in the sector regarding the welfare and wellbeing of farm workers and that challenges should be addressed.
Because of the nature of farming which takes place far away from concentrated habitats such as cities and towns, it is not easy to organise the workers. Not only are working conditions not always acceptably in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, the workers themselves tend most of the time not to be represented.
The recent rise in food prices across the world in a context of continuous population growth further underscores the need to improve the overall performance of the agricultural sector. As with all other industries labour is critical in such a pursuit.
The Summit is scheduled as follows:
Date: 6 to 7 May 2010
Venue: Mayibuye Centre
Time: 10h00
For further enquiries, please contact:
Ali Diteme
Tel: 053 838 9106 or 9159
Cell: 082 547 8385 or 083 452 9851
Source: Department of Agriculture, Northern Cape Provincial Government
