Chairperson, I am happy that the Minister mentioned that they are working together with the Department of Labour and its Minister. I just wonder whether the rescue package that the Minister explained is also applicable to farmworkers in terms of their plight on the farms. Maybe the Minister must comment on this issue.
The second issue I want to mention is the matter of abuse. Is the abuse of farmworkers viewed in a very serious light? If abuse has happened, we would like to see a proper investigation around what actually happened to that particular farmworker. We want to know the facts about it.
More importantly, I am also happy that the Minister mentioned that they are looking at this problem nationally. We wonder whether the Minister will accept the issue of actually having a proper independent investigation, because farmworkers are at the heart of nation-building as well. This is an issue about having a commission to make sure that we understand the whole problem as a country and understand how to deal with these particular instances - an independent commission that government will put together to investigate this matter holistically and then table its findings. Thank you.
The MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES: Chairperson, the Human Rights Commission and the Department of Police have been included in this initial investigation. We do not have a rescue package for farmworkers, but we have one for historically disadvantaged farmers who took loans through the Land Bank. The rescue package for now pertains specifically to the Land Bank farms that are in distress.
Once we have done our preliminary findings, we will then be able to appoint a commission which will then be able to work with specific instructions and with a particular mandate. We cannot just immediately and summarily appoint a commission without a specific mandate. We are convinced that such a commission is required. I do not think that after 15 years we can still say that this evil of abuse against the poorest of the poor is still being perpetuated. I thank you. [Applause.]
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