Kwanalu » Agri SA sal nie nie-nakoming van arbeidswetgewing in die landbousektor duld nie
Agri SA will not tolerate non-compliance with employment law in the agricultural sector -Eng below
Agri SA het op 8 November 2017 in Polokwane aan die Kommissie vir Versoening, Bemiddeling en Arbitrasie (KVBA) se direkteursforum deelgeneem, en neem kennis dat net ongeveer 10% van die werkplekke waarop inspeksies gedoen is in Limpopo deur die departement van Arbeid, aan nie-nakoming van arbeidswetgewing skuldig was.
“Dis belangrik om te weet dat nie-nakoming ook aangeleenthede soos ‘n gebrek aan rekordhouding insluit en nie net growwe oortredings nie,” sê Jahni de Villiers, hoof van Arbeid en Ontwikkeling by Agri SA.
Agri SA se lede sluit in nege provinsiale affiliasies, 24 kommoditeitsorganisasies en 20 korporatiewe lede. “Nakoming van arbeidswetgewing is nie onderhandelbaar vir lede van Agri SA nie en ons provinsiale affiliasies tree onmiddellik op waar nie-nakoming van arbeidswetgewing onder hul aandag kom. Ons het in baie gevalle agtergekom dat die oortredings nie deur lede van Agri SA begaan is nie. Ons glo dat ons ‘n nakomingskultuur bevorder,” sê De Villiers.
Sowat 8% tot10% van plaaswerkers behoort aan vakbonde. “Weens die seisoenale aard van die werk en die feit dat plase nie maklik bereikbaar is nie, is dit moeilik vir vakbonde om in die sektor te organiseer,” sê De Villiers. “Dit plaas ‘n verantwoordelikheid op werkgewers om goeie verhoudings met werkers te handhaaf, en dis ‘n verantwoordelikheid wat georganiseerde landbou baie ernstig opneem.”
“Agri SA neem kennis van sekere uitlokkende uitsprake wat deur rolspelers met geen teenwoordigheid in die sektor gemaak word. Georganiseerde landbou duld nie die swak behandeling van werkers in die sektor nie, net soos geen vorm van landelike geweld geduld sal word nie,” sê de Villiers.
Agri SA will not tolerate non-compliance with employment law in the agricultural sector
Agri SA participated in the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)’s Director’s Forum in Polokwane on 8 November 2017 and noted that in the Limpopo province, only approximately 10% of the workplaces inspected were found to be non-compliant with the country’s employment legislation.
“It is important to note that non-compliance can include matters such as not keeping proper records and do not necessarily mean gross violations in every instance,” said Jahni de Villiers, head of Labour and Development at Agri SA.
Agri SA is home to 9 provincial affiliates as well as 24 commodity organisations and 20 corporate members. “Compliance is not negotiable for Agri SA members and our provincial affiliates act immediately to investigate cases where employment law violations are reported. We have found that in many cases, these violations are not perpetrated by members of Agri SA. We believe that we are fostering a culture of compliance”, said De Villiers.
Between 8% and 10% of workers in the agricultural sector belong to unions. “Due to the seasonal nature of work, and the fact that farms are not easily accessible, it makes it very difficult for unions to organise in the sector,” said De Villiers. “This places a responsibility on employers to foster good relationships with workers, and it is a responsibility that organised agriculture takes very seriously.”
“Agri SA notes that certain inflammatory statements are perpetuated by role-players who have no presence in the sector. We wish to state categorically that organised agriculture condemns the ill-treatment of workers in this sector, just as we condemn all rural violence,” said de Villiers.
Ms Jahni de Villiers, Head: Labour and Development, 012 643 3400 or 071 603 3804