Child labour has seen a decline in South Africa due to stringent monitoring and impartial audits of labour practices.
A 2025 study published by the Child and Youth Care Forum (CYCF) titled Examining child labour activities in South Africa reports that child labour in agriculture for those under the age of 15 has decreased to below 1%. South African law categorizes any labour, whether paid or unpaid, by children under 15 as child labour.
Despite rising unemployment contributing to child labour in certain areas, the agricultural sector has experienced a decrease in such practices. Retha Louw, CEO of the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA), states, "Over the last four years, third-party audit findings related to child labour have steadily declined." SIZA's comprehensive data collection indicates severe non-compliance cases linked to child labour in agriculture are down to 0.7% over the past decade.
The majority of recorded incidents involve young workers aged 16 to 18, primarily due to issues like restricted working hours, identity verification, and health and safety evaluations.
Independent audits conducted by SIZA adhere to rigorous standards. The SIZA Social Standard, shaped by South African law and international market requirements, establishes explicit benchmarks for producers. Common non-compliance issues include inadequate recruitment processes, insufficient worker training, and a lack of formal policies safeguarding children's rights.
The export agriculture sector, including fruit and nuts, is subject to heightened oversight due to the seasonal labour influx and risk of employing low-cost child workers. The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) conducts inspections imposing strict penalties if child labour is discovered.
SIZA mandates that supply chains perform traceability checks and participate in supply chain mapping platforms to mitigate the risk of bypassing oversight systems. Training is provided to help organizations comply with ethical trade and labour regulations.
Obtaining precise child labour data in South Africa's agriculture sector is challenging. The last comprehensive Survey of Activities of Young People (SAYP) was conducted in 2019. The sector is moving towards zero tolerance, with better-trained auditors and stricter protocols over the last decade.
Source: Farmer's Weekly