BusinessLive reports that a study by the Department of Employment & Labour (DEL) has found that 77.7% of workers in the agricultural sector are not unionised, with 25% of the employees saying their salaries were decided solely by the employer.  

The study, entitled “An Investigation into Agricultural Work: A Decent Work Approach”, was conducted nationwide between 2018 and 2019.  It sampled 4,055 employees and 210 employers, and its response rate was 86%.  Among the main findings were that in respect of those who were permanently employed, 78% had a written contract, while 22% had a verbal contract.  It found that 69% of employees would have liked to work more hours in their current jobs; that 63.2% had access to family responsibility leave while 47.5% received maternity leave; and 76.5% had access to vacation leave.  The study found that 48.3% of employers paid pension, compensation for occupational injuries and disease (38.1%) and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (87%).  Regarding a safe work environment, the study found that a total of 8.5% of employees contracted diseases and 17.5% sustained injuries on duty.  The survey also revealed that employers instituted unpaid leave when the farm experienced adverse weather conditions.  The department recommended that “easy access” be facilitated for union officials at farms in an effort to “foster good working relations for all social partners in this sector”.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Luyolo Mkentane at BusinessLive

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