Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana has warned farmers not to wage a political battle against government over the minimum wage determination for farm workers.
Opening debate in the National Assembly on Wednesday on his department’s budget vote, he said some white farmers were intent on fighting a system that would help prevent the exploitation of workers.
”I sincerely hope that this policy, aimed at eradicating poverty and protecting the rights of vulnerable people, is not turned into a racial or political football.
”I would like to state without equivocation that those who think they can turn the clock backwards by putting political pressure on us to stop the ANC’s (African National Congress) transformation agenda, have under-calculated our resolve and determination.”
Mdladlana said while the determination for domestic workers was met with enthusiasm by the majority of employers and workers, the same could not be said of some employers in the agricultural sector.
White farmers and their associations were arguing that they should be allowed to continue paying their workers in kind, and to deduct from their wages more than the allowable 10%.
”Acceding to that demand would… have resulted in the government becoming an accomplice in entrenching the cycle of poverty amongst farm workers.”
It would also have led to an environment in which those who did not like the policies of an elected ANC government could undermine the rule of law with impunity.
However, in the interests of promoting stability in the sector, the government had set up a task team, including representatives of employers and unions, to ensure the successful implementation of the minimum wage, he said.
The new sectoral determination, which came into effect on March 1, prescribes a two-tier minimum wage system of R650 and R800 for agricultural workers.
Agri SA, the Landbouwerkgewersorganisasie (Agricultural Employers’ Organisation), the Transvaal Agricultural Union and the National Cane Growers said in a statement this week they were optimistic a solution to their concerns would be found.
All parties involved, including the department, have been meeting under the auspices of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to try resolving the dispute.
Mdladlana also told members of Parliament a comprehensive programme to help eradicate child labour should be complete before March next year. – Sapa