Yesterday’s claim by Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich that a breakthrough was achieved with a wage deal in Clanwilliam, requires clarification. An offer made by a single farmer, who is apparently highly dependent on the services of a large number of temporary workers during peak harvest time, was welcomed by Cosatu and portrayed by them as a collective deal with Clanwilliam farmers which could serve as a trendsetter for wider application. Our sources confirmed that this particular offer was not supported nor mandated as a collective agreement by other farm leaders and representative organisations of commercial farmers from Clanwilliam. Agri SA consistently argued that individual farmers should regard the statutory minimum wage as a minimum and that they should negotiate higher wages with their workers at farm level, including that of temporary workers, considering all relevant circumstances which may differ from farm to farm. This has indeed taken place, especially since the start of the labour unrest during November last year. The Department of Labour was already briefed on the extent of such negotiations. The aforementioned “deal” should, therefore, be viewed as an example of such negotiations. Agri SA and its members, as well as other national representative agricultural organisations, remain committed to constructively participate in the formal review of the statutory minimum wage, as announced by Minister Oliphant. This process will have to be concluded in February 2013 to take effect in March 2013. Continuous engagements are taking place with relevant authorities to ensure an outcome which will serve the best interests of all stakeholders in agriculture and that of the country.

1. Agri SA
Mediaverklaring / Media Release
Privaatsak / Private Bag X 180 Centurion 0046, Tel +27+12 643 3400, Faks/ Fax +27+12 663
Geen loonooreenkoms is bereik nie, ook nie in Clanwilliam nie
No agricultural wage deal yet, even in Clanwilliam
16 Januarie/January 2013
Geen loonooreenkoms is bereik nie, ook nie in Clanwilliam nie
Gister se aankondiging deur Tony Ehrenreich van Cosatu dat daar in Clanwilliam ‘n
deurbraak met ‘n loonooreenkoms gemaak is, noodsaak opklaring. ‘n Loonaanbod deur ‘n
individuele boer, wat klaarblyklik baie afhanklik is van groot getalle tydelike werkers
gedurende tafeldruif-oestyd, is deur Cosatu verwelkom en voorgehou as ‘n kollektiewe
ooreenkoms met Clanwilliam se boere wat as voorbeeld vir wyer toepassing kan dien.
Ons bronne het bevestig dat die spesifieke aanbod nie deur ander leierboere en
verteenwoordigende organisasies van kommersiële boere van Clanwilliam as ‘n kollektiewe
ooreenkoms gesteun word nie.
Dit was deurlopend Agri SA se standpunt dat boere die statutêre minimum loon as ‘n
minimum moet beskou en hoër vergoedingsvlakke met hulle werkers op plaasvlak deur
onderhandeling moet vasstel, insluitend dié van tydelike werknemers, met inagneming van
toepaslike omstandighede wat van plaas tot plaas kan verskil. Dit was inderdaad die geval,
veral sedert die aanvang van arbeidonrus in November 2012. Toeligting hieroor is reeds
aan die Departement van Arbeid gegee. Die bovermelde ooreenkoms moet derhalwe as net
nog ‘n voorbeeld van so ‘n individuele reëling beskou word.
Agri SA en sy lede, asook ander nasionaal verteenwoordigende landbou-organisasies, bly
verbind tot konstruktiewe deelname aan die formele hersiening van die statutêre minimum
loon, soos deur Minister Oliphant aangekondig. Hierdie proses moet in Februarie 2013
afgehandel word om in Maart 2013 toepassing te vind. Daar is deurlopend gesprekke
hieromtrent met die toepaslike owerhede om ‘n uitkoms te verseker wat in die beste belang
van almal sal wees wat by die landbou ‘n belang het, asook in nasionale belang is.
Uitgereik deur Agri SA, Direktoraat: Korporatiewe Skakeling
Navrae
Mnr Johannes Möller, President Agri SA, 082 647 8481
Mnr Hans van der Merwe, Uitvoerende Direkteur, Agri SA, 082 388 0001
No agricultural wage deal yet, even in Clanwilliam
Yesterday’s claim by Cosatu’s Tony Ehrenreich that a breakthrough was achieved with a
wage deal in Clanwilliam, requires clarification. An offer made by a single farmer, who is
apparently highly dependent on the services of a large number of temporary workers during
peak harvest time, was welcomed by Cosatu and portrayed by them as a collective deal with
Clanwilliam farmers which could serve as a trendsetter for wider application.

2. Our sources confirmed that this particular offer was not supported nor mandated as a
collective agreement by other farm leaders and representative organisations of commercial
farmers from Clanwilliam.
Agri SA consistently argued that individual farmers should regard the statutory minimum
wage as a minimum and that they should negotiate higher wages with their workers at farm
level, including that of temporary workers, considering all relevant circumstances which may
differ from farm to farm. This has indeed taken place, especially since the start of the labour
unrest during November last year. The Department of Labour was already briefed on the
extent of such negotiations. The aforementioned “deal” should, therefore, be viewed as an
example of such negotiations.
Agri SA and its members, as well as other national representative agricultural organisations,
remain committed to constructively participate in the formal review of the statutory minimum
wage, as announced by Minister Oliphant. This process will have to be concluded in
February 2013 to take effect in March 2013. Continuous engagements are taking place with
relevant authorities to ensure an outcome which will serve the best interests of all
stakeholders in agriculture and that of the country.
Issued by Agri SA, Directorate: Corporate Liaison
Enquiries
Mr Johannes Möller, President Agri SA, 082 647 8481
Mr Hans van der Merwe, Executive Director, Agri SA, 082 388 0001