Question NW2790 to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
26 August 2015 - NW2790
Madisha, Mr WM to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Whether he has requested or will be requesting a seminar or bosberaad with departmental officials and private sector experts to understand the implications of the report of the International Labour Organisation released in February 2015, entitled Farm Workers’ Living and Working Conditions in South Africa: key trends, emergent issues and underlying and structural problems, and in particular to address the point that outdated assumptions and oversimplifications continue to fuel unhealthy polarisation in the perceptions and views of key players in agriculture; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) when will he make a statement regarding the failure of the Government as highlighted in the specified report?
Reply:
Although I am fully aware of the ILO study on farm workers living and working conditions in South Africa, the report that was issued in February 2015 was just a draft for input by affected stakeholders. The ILO final report on farm workers living and working conditions in South Africa was only finalized and published on 21 July 2015.
I am arranging a briefing from the International Labour Organisation on the findings of the study. Consequently, I will interact with Ministers of Labour and Rural Development and Land Reform to have an integrated approach to the recommendations of the report. We will then consult with relevant stakeholders in the agriculture sector to discuss and develop a sector action plan to address challenges addressed in the report.