Minister calls meeting on farming disputes
2012-11-09 23:11
Johannesburg - Agriculture Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has called a meeting to seek a solution to labour disputes on farms in the Western Cape, her office said on Friday.
"Tomorrow’s [Saturday] meeting follows the ongoing negotiations between farm workers and farmers to reach a settlement agreement to end the wage dispute," spokesman Palesa Mokomele said in a statement.
"In today’s [Friday] meeting in Worcester... concluded by the employers recommending a new minimum wage of R80.00 per day."
The meeting would be attended by the ministers of labour and police, the Western Cape provincial government, representatives of farmer unions and farm workers.
Mokomele said further negotiations would be concluded between farmers and workers at different farms.
Farm workers in De Doorns in the Western Cape began protesting on Monday, demanding wages of R150 a day, improved living conditions, electricity, and an end to illegal evictions, illegal immigrant workers, and labour brokers.
Police said the situation in De Doorns was "very quiet" on Friday.
Earlier in the week, protests resulted in vineyards being burnt, a number of arrests, and the closure of the N1 between Touws River and De Doorns.
- SAPA
