Share

Farmers fined up to R1m for underpaying

Polokwane - At least 10 Limpopo farmers have been fined, some over R1m, for underpaying their employees, the labour department in the province said on Thursday.

Labour inspectors discovered gross violations of basic conditions of employment during a three-day blitz in farming areas, spokesperson Joe Mokou said.

The department issued spot fines to recoup salaries due to workers. Some fines reached at least R1m, because of the number of employees involved, said Mokou.

The farmworkers were allegedly underpaid by at least R1 427 each and employers failed to contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), despite deducting this from their salaries.

The operation aimed to determine whether employers in the farming sector were complying with the R2 227 monthly minimum wage set by the department.

"When we discovered that they were not paying their workers accordingly, and also not paying UIF, we then issued spot fines, enforcing legislation for employers to make outstanding payment undertakings," said Mokou.

Limpopo farmers employ thousands of workers, for produce ranging from citrus to tomatoes, and also employ seasonal workers during harvest season.

The department ordered farmers not complying with UIF regulations to do this. Documents given to inspectors showed some workers had yet to be registered after having worked for years at the same farm.

Mokou said inspectors found cases of employees working without protective clothing and some of their housing was not fit for human habitation.

"We are not looking for luxury accommodation, but what we find here is unacceptable, not even suitable for dogs."

Some employers were deducting more than 10%, the legally designated amount, from workers' salaries for sub-standard accommodation.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.90
+0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.86
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.37
+0.3%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.31
+0.2%
Rand - Yen
0.12
+0.2%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders