30 May 2003
Yesterday, during an SAFM interview Comrade Ramatlhodi linked recent retrenchments of farm workers to the enforcement of the sectoral determination on minimum wages and working conditions for farm workers. In the view, of the South African Communist Party (SACP) the Premier's statement raises the question - what is the point of progressive labour market policies if we cannot enforce them, if employers can just unilaterally continue as if it is business as usual? In effect, the farm retrenchments are testing the capacity of our democracy and the working class to defend and advance the interests of the most marginalised workers in our country.
Whilst our constitution recognises property rights, it also recognises the right to work and decent work. The Bill of Rights says that everyone has inherent dignity and a right for that dignity to be respected. The retrenchment of farm workers, in order to evade paying them the absolute minimum wage, indicates that the current land ownership dispensation itself needs to be an essential focus of debate and transformation. In other words, Premier Ramathlodi's statement is also a clear indication that government has actually not adequately and systematically dealt with accelerated land and agrarian reform, and the transformation of white agricultural capital (a major beneficiary of apartheid). If these fundamental issues are not addressed, white agricultural capital will be further emboldened to undermine workers' rights and continue with the perpetuation of apartheid land ownership patterns.
In the view of the SACP, Premier Ramathlodi's statement is also a clear indication that government has actually not adequately and systematically dealt with accelerated land and agrarian reform, and the transformation of white agricultural capital (a major beneficiary of apartheid). If these fundamental issues are not addressed, white agricultural capital will be further emboldened to undermine workers' rights and continue with the perpetuation of apartheid land ownership patterns.
The SACP reiterates its call for a moratorium on farm retrenchments based on the sectoral determination on minimum wages for farm workers. The SACP all calls for an increased focus by government and other stakeholders on the building of the capacity of the state, farm workers and rural communities in order accelerate land and agrarian reform and roll back the overbearing power of white agricultural capital on land and agrarian reform.
Finally, the SACP calls on all farm workers to report cases of retrenchments, abuse, racism, beating and unfair working conditions to the Department of Labour, trade unions, the South African Human Rights Commission. For its part, the SACP will redouble its efforts to ensure that farm workers are educated about, and effectively claim their rights; and that they are mobilised to join trade unions.
CONTACT
Mazibuko K. Jara (surname Jara)
Department of Media, Information & Publicity
South African Communist Party
Tel - 011 339-3621/2, Fax – 011 339-4244
Cell – 072 275 4753 (temporary number)
Email - mazibuko@sacp.org.za