MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, Mase Manopole, has called on improving working conditions for farmworkers in the Province’s farms.
During the commemoration of Human Rights Day, MEC Manopole indicated that some farmworkers are still subjected to unfavourable working and living conditions.
“The right to just and favourable working conditions, good standard of living, provision of adequate health is fundamental in improving the livelihoods of farmworkers and farm dwellers. Farmworkers and farm dweller rights are human rights too as encapsulated in the Bill of Rights,” highlighted Manopole.
This year’s Human Rights Day was celebrated under the theme: “The year of Charlotte Maxeke: promoting human rights in the Age of COVID-19.”
The MEC’s comments come after a series of reports which have been recorded by the Department, detailing alleged gruesome stories of how badly their employers treat farmworkers.
Manopole indicated that these violations are rife in Phokwane, Siyancuma and ZF Mgcawu municipalities.
The MEC said it could not be business as usual when farm workers’ rights continue to be violated.
Dismissals and evictions of farmworkers continue unabated. Furthermore, the Department’s officials still struggle to play an oversight role and enforce compliance because they are denied access to farms.
She called on everyone who has experienced the abuse or has seen or heard of farmworkers’ exploitation, to report the matter to the nearest police station, the Department of Employment and Labour, Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Land Reform and Rural Development, Commercial Associations and Trade Unions.
MEC Manopole emphasised that in terms of Section 10 of the Constitution Act of 1996, “Everyone has inherent dignity and the right to have their dignity respected and protected.”
This section of the Bill of Rights is also applicable to farmworkers and farm dwellers.
The MEC has also committed the Department to continue advocating for the following rights with farmworkers and farm dwellers:
- Freedom of association, including the right to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively.
- The rights of children to access safe schooling and protection.
- The rights to a decent standard of living, health and well-being.
- Access to government services such as health, basic municipal services, social security and registration of birth,
- Access to land,
- Security of land tenure
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Department Employment and Labour, has recently announced the amendments to the national minimum wage and the new minimum wages for 2021. Farmworkers will be paid a minimum wage of R21, 69 per hour.
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