Parliament, Saturday, 28 May 2022 – A joint delegation of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, and the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour has raised concern about reports that some farmers in Mpumalanga are failing to adhere to labour laws and employ large numbers of foreign nationals, against the restrictions stipulated in labour legislation.
The committees yesterday began a three-day oversight programme in the province by visiting a banana packaging farm in Malelane to assess the working and living conditions of the workers in the sector.
The delegation also met with various stakeholders which included trade unions, representatives of farm dwellers, organised farmers as well as government officials from the Department of Employment and Labour, and the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development in Mpumalanga.
Farm workers raised their dissatisfaction and ill-treatment at the hands of their employers and asked Members of Parliament and the departments to intervene. Some of the complaints related to working long hours while standing, only taking 30 minute breaks for tea and lunch, when the law stipulates that workers who work standing must do shift rotation every four hours.
There were also claims that some farm workers did not contribute to any provident or pension funds, which leaves them with nothing when they retire.
On the employment of foreign nationals, a farm was found to be employing a total of 198 foreign nationals when it was only permitted to have not more than 70 of them. Officials from the Department of Labour told the delegation that often when labour inspectors schedule dates for inspections some farmers will hide their foreign employees or make excuses for the inspections to be postponed.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development ,Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, and who is the leader of the delegation said all the reports and allegations must be followed up, investigated and action taken against those who violated the laws and workers’ rights.
Today the committees will meet with farm dwellers at Paardeplaats and Zoekop farms in Belfast, in the province’s Nkangala District.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, INKOSI ZWELIVELILE MANDELA.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Name: Sakhile Mokoena
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 705 2130
E-mail: smokoena@parliament.gov.za
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