South African agricultural workers sometimes don't earn enough to afford food for their families. While agri-organisations support government's effort to improve the landmark minimum wage, they say it must be a 'sustainable increase'
The National Minimum Wage Commission is expected to release its recommendations on what South Africa’s threshold for wages in 2023 should be any day now. While thousands of agricultural workers do not earn enough to secure their own food, role players are calling on the government to implement a “sustainable increase” and not an inflation-related increase.
According to Agri SA’s executive director, Christo van der Rheede, government should sign off on an increase that improves workers’ lives and protects Mzansi’s farming sector: “The sector has faced significant headwinds in recent years which threaten the viability of many farms. Agri SA also recognises the cost pressures on all consumers in South Africa. And therefore, while the need for an increase is clear, it needs to be sustainable for the country’s farming operations to ensure food security for consumers.”
The organisation proposes an increase of consumer price inflation (CPI) minus 2%. According to Agri SA, this represents a substantial increase while also accounting for the especially difficult economic context in which the agricultural sector finds itself.
Source: foodformzansi.co.za