Few people would seriously dispute that many SA farm workers are badly paid. But the way labour minister Thulas Nxesi is aiming to change this — in the middle of a pandemic, and amid one of the highest unemployment rates in the world — suggests he still hasn’t got the memo about "consulting the private sector" on new policies.This week, Nxesi unveiled a 16% unilateral wage increase, similar to the same blanket rise he afforded workers in the restaurant industry a few weeks ago.Neither move, it seems, took into account any of the inputs from employers in the sector.Agri SA, for instance, argued in the talks leading up to the surprise announcement that an immediate increase in wages would be unsustainable for the agricultural sector.Worse, it appears that Nxesi’s labour commissioners brushed off the effects that the state’s pandemic-related shutdowns have had on huge swathes of the sector — like wine and tobacco farmers, as well as wool and barley producers, which were not declared es...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.