Farm Workers’ Living and Working Conditions in South Africa: Key Trends, Emergent Issues, & Underlying and Structural Problems Margareet Visser Institute of Development and Labour Law, University of Cape Town and Dr Stuart Ferrer Director of the Agricultural Policy Research Unit, School of Agricultural, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu- Natal

How? Our Methodology Focussed on labour-intensive industries Ten case studies (consisting of five farms each) in eight provinces In-depth semi-structured individual interviews with 48 producers and 208 farm workers Group interviews with 250 farm workers. 90 interviews with key stakeholders across the case studies (industry organisations, trade unions, NGOs, government)

The state’s approach to agriculture since 1994 Engagement with farm workers (RDP) – Extension of labour legislation – Strengthening of tenure of security rights Withdrawal from producers (GEAR) – Deregulation of the agricultural sector (e.g. closing down of marketing boards) – Less direct support: subsidisation – Less indirect support: withdrawal of tariff barriers Producers have become price takers

Has this policy worked? The number of farming units have declined by 30% over 10 years) Average solvency of farms has declined to the worst levels in 30 years as debt growth outstripped asset growth. The number of workers have declined by 30% over 20 years)

Markets have changed….Covent Garden

Markets today… A Walmart DC

Farmers have little control over prices

Casualisation has increased Sep-08Oct-09Nov-10Dec-11 PSPSPSPS Hex Orange Total

Serious knock-on effects as a result of casualisation – More workers are living off-farm – Labour brokering prevalent in labour intensive areas – More internal migration – Rural Towns not coping

More evictions? Difficult to know…. A look at Drakenstein municipality Department of Rural Affairs and Land Reform (DRDLR), Cape Winelands: Number of evictions: Drakenstein Municipality: Number of farmers who have brought eviction cases Drakenstein Municipality: Number of eviction notices received Drakenstein Municipality: Number of occupiers estimated to be evicted No data114263

Leave and working hours: We found fairly high levels of compliance Total Perm Season Outliers i.t.o compliancy (PW only) Outliers i.t.o. non- compliancy (PW only) Receive annual or pro-rata leave 78%83%63% WC: 98%; Ventersdorp: 95% Eston and Nkomazi: 67% Receive paid sick leave 85% 88%77% SRV, Ventersdorp, Gauteng: 100% Eston: 75%; Nkomazi: 53% Work 9 hours (or less) per day 91%89%96% WC, SRV, Gauteng: 100% Ventersdorp, Bothaville, Eston: % Receive a payslip during each pay period 96%98%91% Are paid 1.5x the normal rate for overtime 66%70%56%SRV: 100%; WC: 84%Levubu: 38%; Eston: 50%

Most WC workers earn less than R130 per day in 2014

Western Cape and Gauteng workers relatively better off than those in rest of country 2011% less2012% less2013% less Mphuma langa 21%KZN26%Free State24% KZN22% Mphuma langa 27% Mphuma langa 24.5% Eastern Cape 24%Eastern Cape31%Eastern Cape30% Free State33%Free State35%KZN30.8% Limpopo34%Limpopo43%Limpopo51%

More protection and support to workers – Change labour legislation to protect seasonal workers – More legal support and rights training – Closer co-operation between the DoL; and ethical trade bodies; unions should start to “ride” standards – Implement policies/plans to extend seasonal work Roll out the Public Works Programmes in rural areas during the off-season Support the establishment of processing facilities and post-harvest facilities that lengthen the season

Bolster producers’ bargaining power Open up new export markets Eliminate non-tariff trade barriers Consider exempting exporting producers from the Competition Act

Revise Housing Policy Provide more support for on-farm housing Enter public/private partnerships with producer communities to build more off-farm worker housing; More financial support to rural municipalities Improve public transport in rural areas

Full report available at: Contact: Margareet Visser University of Cape Town