Yes, hon Mathevula, there are studies that we have undertaken that cover farmworkers. The Department of Employment and Labour has conducted various researches on the working conditions of the farmworkers in the country. The levels of compliance and non-compliance with occupational health and safety regulation by companies in the iron and steel construction and agricultural - well, the study aimed to investigate those levels of compliance with occupational health and safety by the companies in these sectors I have just mentioned.
The study aimed to come up with possible policy legislative organisational and resourcing models of interventions that can assist the government and unions to more effectively organise the farmworkers, and again, investigation into the agricultural work in
rural areas and the decent work approach. This study in 2018 is aimed to share insights on the status of the work in the agricultural sector whilst also assessing the working conditions in the agricultural sector against the international labour organisation principles of decent work.
On the issue of the bitter haves migrant workers in the commercial agricultural sector in South Africa, the aim of the study was to conduct a comprehensive policy review both state and nonstate of existing policies, arrangements and practices relating to the procurement retention and regulation of the low wage migrant farmworkers in South Africa to undertake an updated analysis of the relationship between transformation of the South African economy and its structural, a need for low wage migrant farm labour and to document the actual practises relating to the management of the migrant farm labour including the working conditions on the ground through an examination of the role of the labour inspectorate and the unions.
Lastly, Chairperson, whilst studies conducted identified some deficiencies in the basic rights of the farmworkers; the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997, regulate access to this basic right. So, the Act applies to all employees and employers with the
exception of the members of the state security agency and unpaid volunteers working for an organisation with a charitable purpose.
So, the Department of Labour has indeed paid attention to this group of workers and through its compliance, monitoring and enforcement services, the department ensures that employers and employees comply with the labour legislation through regular inspections and reviews of the minimum wage within the sector. But lets be honest, it's a tough struggle for a number of employers to comply, especially for these vulnerable workers.