KwaZulu-Natal farmers want a wage subsidy introduced that would meet workers demands for more pay
According to South Africa trade and industry minister, Rob Davies, farmers in the city of Durban were living in poor living conditions and that, instead of a wage subsidy, the government would roll out farmer “support” programmes.
“There are very strict rules on how we can engage on subsidies. Rather, we are going to enter the game by tackling subsidies in developed countries that are affecting developing countries such as South Africa,” Davies remarked.
Davies said that cheap imports that come to the South African market, such as chicken from countries like Brazil, would be examined.
Last month workers in the Western Cape went on an illegal strike demanding a rise in the minimum wage, which was set in February this year.
The sector had confirmed a rise at the end of February next year by the consumer price inflation rate and an additional 150 basis points.
Agriculture minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, has agreed to have workers’ demands agreed to by 4 December 2012, with the Department of Labour publishing a notice revealing their plans to review and cancel the present pay agreement.
