Summit Aims for Better Working Conditions on Farms

Farm workers and those living on farms will use the upcoming National Farm Workers Summit as a platform to influence future legislation governing their working conditions and their security of tenure. The two-day summit to be hosted by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson will kick off on Friday 30 July in Somerset West in the Western Cape. The theme of the summit is “Towards a better life for vulnerable workers” and President Jacob Zuma will deliver the keynote address. Together with domestic workers, farm workers are the most vulnerable section of the South African working class and although there are a number of measures such as legislation that have been put in place to protect them, the majority are not enjoying better wages, improved and fair conditions of employment.  The national summit, a culmination of provincial summits that were held in  the country’s nine provinces in the past three months, is expected to consolidate the submissions collected to be handed over to the Department of Agriculture for use in formulating future legislation.  Minister Joemat-Pettersson said: “Far from being a gripe session, the summit aims to take the best lessons and try to emulate them and spread them around the country. It is for this reason that farmers, who have been supportive in improving conditions of their workers, will also share testimonials.”  The summit will also focus on other crucial issues of the security of tenure, social conditions and security.  “What we are called upon to do is to act. We are ready to act, but not from above, but with all the constituencies. As we raise the profile of the most vulnerable section of our people, we want to do so with them,” added the Minister. BuaNews