Farm hearings in Western Cape continuing

The first hearing took place in Grabouw on Monday night (14 January) and the second was held in Paarl on Tuesday evening.

Hearings were set down for De Doorns, Robertson, Oudtshoorn and Vredendal for the remainder of the week. The venues still had to be finalised.

The labour department held a month-long session of public hearings across the country in November and December following an extended strike by seasonal farm workers in the Western Cape. The department then decided to extend the public hearings in January.

Seasonal farm workers wanted their daily minimum wage increased from R69 to R150.

The employment conditions commission was tasked with reviewing the sectoral determination for agriculture, which stipulates minimum wages, the number of leave days, working hours, and termination rules among others.

The sectoral determination was put in place in March last year and could legally be reviewed again 12 months later.

Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant was expected to make an announcement on the new wages in February and these would come into effect from 1 March.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge