Sunday Times reports that supermarkets in Denmark have started taking SA wines off their shelves following a scathing documentary on conditions for farmworkers at some of the country's top wine estates.
The documentary, Bitter Grapes - Slavery in the Vineyards, by Danish filmmaker Tom Heinemann, was aired in Denmark and Sweden last week. The film describes widespread violations of labour laws, including workers receiving R105 for a 12-hour shift, exposure to toxic pesticides without protective gear or training how to use the chemicals, shocking living conditions, deductions of up to 80% from wages and an unofficial dop system. Heinemann also criticised the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trading Association, a local organisation set up to ensure fair labour practices. Robertson Winery labelled the documentary as a "one-sided picture of a very complex situation". VinPro, a mouthpiece for the farm owners and producers, called the film biased.
- Read this report in full at Sunday Times
- Read too, SA wyn glo in Denemarke van rakke gehaal, at Netwerk24 (limited access)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page