Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism

Agri workers, seasonal and permanently employed, are a very important, yet marginalised group of citizens, which for a very long time did not receive adequate support or access to services from government departments and/or local municipal structures.

The Department does not differentiate between seasonal and permanent agri workers or workers living on or off farms, as they all play a significant role in the agricultural sector. All services are thus readily available to all agri workers, no matter the type of employment agreement or where they live and are aimed at improving the working conditions and dignity of all agri workers (seasonal and permanent or on/off farm living). These services include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Labour Rights and Responsibilities sessions: Facilitated with all agri workers throughout the province, these sessions take the form of training workshops to capacitate agri workers, supervisors, Human Resources (HR) and employers on labour legislation.  Furthermore, we are informing the agri workers of their responsibilities whilst employed in the agricultural sector. Seasonal workers are specifically included, as there is often a misconception that they are not protected by the same labour legislation and thus don’t have the same rights.
2. Partnerships with industry auditors, including SIZA and WIETA, to ensure all agri workers are treated with dignity and work in a safe and fair environment. The Helpdesks at these entities regularly refer complaints received during their audits to the department for assessment in order to address these complaints.
3. Collaboration with the Department of Employment and Labour, by accompanying them on their farm visits and conducting Blitz inspections aimed at monitoring of labour and living conditions on farms.
4. Investigation of all queries/complaints received by seasonal and permanently employed agri workers, in order to provide them with the correct information or to refer them to the appropriate department or service as identified.
5. Training of agri workers as healthcare support staff in order to ensure that agri workers receive the necessary first aid services and basic health care on farms.
6. Workshops on the safe transportation of agri workers which focus on educating agri workers, drivers and farm management on dignified manners of transporting staff.

Most initiatives are implemented during working hours on the farm, in order to ensure that workers who live off farm are also reached.