Minister vows to protect local farm labourers
The 'umjaho system' should be stopped and those farmers who continue using it would be punished.
KZN labour minister Mildred Oliphant has vowed that farmers found abusing their workers would be dealt with swiftly.
Speaking at a farm workers imbizo at Umthobisa in Upper Tongaat on Sunday Oliphant said the ‘umjaho system’ should be stopped and those farmers who continue using it would be punished.
‘Umjaho’ is the system whereby a worker is paid according to work completed and not according to the hours worked.
Oliphant had conducted random farm checks on Friday and said she had found a number of problems including complaints about ‘umjaho’, cane cutters not wearing protective clothing and the hiring of forein nationals without work permits.
“When I spoke with them they said the protective clothing was not provided by the employers. However, I must say that there were other workers who did not want to wear the boots, complaining about the heat. It was clear that they did not know the importance of wearing the protective clothing,” said Oliphant.
Farm worker Phathaphatha Mjutu said they did not get a lunch break and if they did not finish their ‘Umjaho’, they did not get paid for the day.
Other workers who spoke with The Courier did not want to be named for fear of being victimised. They claimed their employers were selling them the equipment that they had to use for work. They believe that it should be provided to them.
Other issues raised included the lack of clinics or schools for the people who are staying on the farms.
The aim of the imbizo was to educate the farm workers about the rights accorded to them by various labour legislation such as Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) and Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
Oliphant said she planned to return for more spot checks and farmers who did not comply would be taken to the labour court.
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