While some businesses will not want the close scrutiny of the inspectors from the department of Labour, this is not so with a Sannieshof farmer, Mr NM Grobler.
Seeing a convoy of inspectors passing his farm, Grobler stopped the convoy and demanded that they inspect his farm as well. They did.
“There were a few things that needed the farmer comply with and he invited us to come back again in a week. He promised to have rectified whatever has been pointed out to him.
“Generally we are confronted with farmers who would rather we did not visit but this is a new and strange experience. It shows that there are those farmers who take their business seriously and are committed to comply with labour laws. It would be good to see more of Mr Groblers,” said the Minister of Labour Mildred Oliphant.
The minister was also impressed with the general compliance in the area that is thought of as the bastion of rightwing resistance.
“In another farm, the inspectors were impressed by Dawie Marais who not only pays his workers above the minimum wage but has also built four roomed houses in the township for his employees. This is the correct way to treat workers,” she said.
However the treatment of workers in some farms still remains a source of concern. In one of the farms, workers are made to pay R120 a room in cramped, filthy conditions without even proper sanitation and no electricity. They are also expected to pay R90 a month for water.
“We advised the farmer to apply for a proper subsidy to build proper housing for the workers. It would be understandable if at least workers were being paid properly. In some instances they are paid R900 and with all these deductions they end up taking home as little as R400 if not less a month. That is not acceptable but this particular farmer was honest and she has promised to do whatever is possible to comply with the laws. This is what we would like to see, commitment and the department will ensure that we will advise farmers on the ways to comply with legislation,” she said.
Of the 31 farms inspected by mid-morning by the five teams, at least half complied with the basic conditions of employment, occupational health and safety as well as providing contracts for workers, deduct Unemployment Insurance as well as giving workers proper leave.
Areas of concern include lack of protective clothing in some farms, unsafe machinery, exposed live wires, workers not given a lunch hour for their meals while expected to work long hours and lack of overtime payment.
“The North West is the eighth province that we have visited with Gauteng outstanding. It is clear from these visits that we still have much to do in terms of making the labour laws and how to comply. Complying with the law is good business as we have seen that some of the most successful farmers are those who do the right things.
“The department is committed to continue the inspections and help where we can. This is not a punitive approach but a partnership between business, labour and government,” said the minister.
For more information:
Musa Zondi
Cell: 082 901 8081
