Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana on Wednesday slated the commercial farming union AgriSA’s reaction to minimum wage laws, saying he would welcome a move by the union to take the government to court.
”The way Agri South Africa is approaching the matter is causing problems for themselves,” he said in reply to questions in the National Assembly.
The minister said he had been informed that the union intended to challenge in court the sectoral determination introducing minimum wages for farm workers.
AgriSA is arguing the determination for the agricultural sector is ”procedurally unfair”, and that the minimum wage could result in serious job losses on farms.
From this month, farm workers in wealthier areas must be paid a minimum of R800 a month, while those in other areas must receive a minimum of R650 a month. The union had wanted a six-month delay before the minimum wage became effective and complained the minister had refused to make any concessions to address farmers’ concerns.
Mdladlana said AgriSA had been fully consulted on the legislation and had played a central role during public hearings on the proposals. The department had also acceded to a number of requests regarding the law, such as extending working hours during harvest periods.
The minister said he had proposed a meeting between all the social partners in the sector, including the Congress of SA Trade Unions and AgriSA, to try ”thrash out this matter”.
”And now I am informed that they (AgriSA) have written a letter, already, through their lawyers that they are taking us to court, and I am very excited.
”Because, I am going to go to court to defend the rights of these workers,” Mdladlana said. – Sapa