Seventeen Northern Cape farmers locked out Department of Labour inspectors who were on a mission to root out farmers who break the labour laws, said the department on Thursday.
The inspectors had made appointments with farmers in Carnavon and Fraserburg during a meeting on February 21 to visit their farms to ensure that they were complying with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
When the inspectors arrived at the farms last week the gates were locked and they were unable to get in, department spokesperson Zolisa Sigabi said.
”We find their conduct disappointing as we want to work with them to improve the basic working conditions of farm workers,” Sigabi said.
A total of 48 farms were inspected and the compliance rate was 79,2%.
She said 27 of the inspections were follow-ups and their level of compliance was 99%.
Ten notices were served to farmers for non-compliance, relating to failure to pay minimum wages, the failure to issue payslips, deductions for accommodation, failure to record workers’ particulars properly and failing to pay overtime for work on Sundays.
Last year, inspectors were unable to enter more than 50 farms in the area.
Sigabi said that during the meeting in February that farmers’ organisations blamed their members’ absence on various reasons, including that they were on holiday, that some farms were no longer in operation, and that inspectors had failed to secure appointments in time.
”We want to encourage cooperation from the farmers, as it works better for the farmers and workers,” said Sigabi.
She said farmers who did not comply with the act were given notices and after 21 days inspectors returned to check for compliance.
AfriForum chief executive officer Kallie Kriel declined to comment on the matter. — Sapa