The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has expressed her appreciation at the resolution of the wage dispute at Keurboschkloof farm in De Doorns. In a win-win situation the workers at Keurboschkloof have made some gains, including the right to organise under trade unions, and farmers have seen production restored.
The Minister has complimented the parties, and directed that the situation be monitored to ensure that the terms of the agreement are honoured.
The right of workers to organise under their chosen union is a fundamental right. It is in this light that the Minister views with extreme concern a recent complaint received from farm workers in the Hex Valley. In their complaint they claim that since the organised and peaceful action of workers on Keurboschkloof farm, they have been threatened and victimised and told they are not allowed to meet to discuss their working conditions.
The attached letter from workers on various farms has accused farm owners and management of serious levels of intimidation. According to this letter workers are barred from meeting at night (either on farms or in their communities) to discuss labour issues and they are threatened with losing their jobs if they join a union.
These acts of intimidation are uncalled for in our democracy and require our collective attention and action.
The Minister has directed the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to investigate all the allegations as a matter of urgency. The Minister will also request the Minister of Labour to ask her departmental inspectors to investigate, and to ensure that farm workers, as one of the most vulnerable categories of workers, also enjoy the right to organise and where necessary to protest peacefully for better conditions.
