AN Mpumalanga farmers’ union has joined the labour department in an intensive drive to enforce labour laws on farms. The Onderberg Farmers Union’s made the commitment following recent labour department raids on 15 farms in the Onderberg region, east of Nelspruit. Farmers were found to be using child labourers, illegal immigrants and forcing workers to work long hours without pay. The union’s secretary Hendrik van Dyk said on Wednesday that his union was positive about co-operating with the department. He insisted that 99% of farmers in the region were complying with the law. A union member, Piet Maritz of Piet Maritz Boerdery near Marloth Park, was charged with hiring child labourers after a department raid on May 24. – African Eye News Service