Agriculture is undoubtedly one of the most important sectors as it is the source of the world’s food supply. For centuries, agriculture has been a powerful tool for ending poverty and boosting prosperity. But there is a dark side to agriculture – farmworkers are often subject to abuse and human rights violations.
As South Africans commemorate Human Rights Day today, farmworkers in the country speak out against human rights violations on some farms.
Food For Mzansi reached out to a few farmworkers – vital to food ecosystems, but often ill-treated. They all agree that “the rights of farmworkers are not respected”.
Abuse of power
Jaydon Slinger, a farmworker in the Western Cape, has toiled away on two wine farms in the past four years. According to him, most farmers abide by the law and pay fair wages. Some, he points out, also provide housing, water, electricity, and even transport. But it’s not all good, adds Slinger.
“Some farmers use the law to abuse their powers because farmworkers are loyal to the farms,” he said.
“There are also farms that give small loans to the workers to keep them on the farms. In other [instances] farmers spite [farmworkers] with housing deals and threaten to [evict] them.”
Fairtrade Africa communication officer Sandi Ndlovu wants South Africans to be honest about the realities around human rights violations on farms.
“Farmworker human rights are not respected. To claim otherwise would not be in touch with reality and to deny their daily struggles,” Ndlovu told Food For Mzansi.
“Farmworker human rights are not respected. To claim otherwise would be out of touch with reality and to deny their daily struggles.”
Awareness campaigns needed
A big problem is that not all farmworkers are well-informed about their rights, and Slinger said laws that better protect farmworkers, should be implemented.
“[We need to] create a law to make the farmworkers feel that they are not alone, [and] that farmers do not treat them like modern-day slaves.”
He pointed out a need for trade unions and farmworker rights awareness campaigns.
Another farmworker in the Western Cape, Jason Baartman, agrees that awareness is important. “I think the support isn’t there. Farmworkers don’t know their rights and sometimes farmers take advantage,” Baartnam said.
“We need more workshops to learn more about our rights. We are fine but there are some improvements that must take place. I think if our government is stable, then we will do well.”
The common goal
It is not all doom and gloom, Ndlovu added. There are both positives and negatives.
“I also believe that all stakeholders in the agricultural space should come together and speak with one voice. We use different vehicles, but we all want to reach the same destination… Ultimately [for] farmworkers’ human rights to be respected and upheld, and their dignity to be restored.”
Issues around women farmworkers must also be highlighted, Ndlovu said. She noted that Fairtrade Africa has a project, funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland, called Donuts (Dignified Opportunities Nurtured Through Trade and Sustainability) that specifically addresses the rights of all farmworkers on wine farms.
“Something as basic as access to running water or flushing toilets is sadly still unattainable for many farmworkers. People who have worked on a farm since their youth lose their homes when their health fails them, or they are in their old age. These are overt violations of their right as humans to dignity,” Ndlovu explained.
Communication is key
Founder of PPS Stop Farm Killings, Petrus Sitoh, said respect for farmworkers’ human rights must be weighed on a case-to-case basis.
“Yes, there have been instances where farmworkers have had infringements on their human rights,” he said.
“We would encourage the farmworkers in this instance to take this up with management, or with their union, or to even contact me directly, and I would raise the concerns with the farmers, and come to a resolution. Farmworkers have a right to form or join a trade union and to participate in the activities and programmes of a trade union.”
Sitoh does, however, believe that most farmworkers in South Africa are treated well and says collaboration is important.
“Farmers should listen to their farmworkers’ issues, and look at getting a solution to the problem,” he said.
“Communication is important, otherwise the farmer is not aware of the problems the farmworker is experiencing.”
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