Farmers must change attitude

2003-05-15 22:11

Marietie Louw

Pretoria - If farmers maintain their "arrogant attitude" of dismissing workers because of minimum wage legislation they must be taught a lesson.

So said the South African Communist Party (SACP) on Thursday in a statement on the subject.

SACP spokesperson Mazibuko Jara said there should be a moratorium on dismissing farmworkers once the law is promulgated.

According to its provisions, workers must be paid R650 a month in some areas and R800 in others. A task team was appointed last month to hold further discussions about this.

Jara said dismissing farmworkers was a "negotiating tactic" to win the government's favour while negotiations continued.

"Although there has been much transformation in the labour market, some farmworkers are still treated as though they're in the old apartheid era," said Jara.

According to Agri SA president Japie Grobler, saying "farmers should be taught a lesson" could be regarded as incitement to farm attacks.

He said minimum wage legislation was forcing some farmers to dismiss workers. "New farmers especially are in a tricky situation."

- Beeld