Talks begin to resolve farmworked unrest

Against a background of continued tension among farmworkers – with worrying implications for the perishable export industry – negotiations to resolve the wage dispute and consequent unrest were expected to get under way this week. This followed a notice issued by the Department of Labour calling on all interested parties to comment on the possibility of reviewing the minimum wage for farmworkers. Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant also called a meeting of the Commission for Conditions of Employment to advise her on a way forward regarding this matter. The process has been given a stamp of approval by all the interested parties including Cosatu, Agri-SA and the farmers’ unions. The talks will be mediated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.