The recent Agri Worker Indaba, convened by Fairtrade Africa in the Western Cape, brought attention to the pressing social issues prevalent on wine farms across the region. Supported by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Department of Labour spearheaded workshops aimed at addressing critical issues, including child labour, while striving to promote fair labour practices.
Spanning a wide array of topics, workshops covered financial literacy, compliance, and the identification and impact of child labour. Ms. Unathi Ramabulana from the Department of Employment and Labour stressed the importance of gender-inclusive approaches in addressing these challenges. Discussions led by Ramabulana also delved into labour rights, encompassing working hours, leave policies, and minimum wage requirements.
Sipho Ndebele, chief director at the Department of Employment and Labour, underscored the collaborative efforts between FairTrade, the ILO, and his department, particularly in combating child labour in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
The indaba didn’t merely consist of discussions; concrete steps were taken to tackle these challenges:
Capacity-building workshops equipped community-based organizations, workers, employers’ organizations, and relevant government officials with tools and techniques to effectively identify and combat child labour.
Awareness-raising sessions were conducted for project stakeholders, focusing on South Africa’s ratified international instruments, children’s rights, and protections against child labour, including its worst forms.
Information sessions highlighted the contents of the Durban Call to Action on the elimination of child labour, emphasizing the roles civil society and children themselves can play in its implementation.
Capacity-building workshops aimed to integrate gender considerations into efforts to address and eradicate child labour.
Among the attendees was a journalist from “Food For Mzansi,” capturing the essence of the discussions and commitments made. Participants, deeply engaged in the prevention of child labour, actively participated in discussions and expressed gratitude for the insights gained during the workshops. They pledged to serve as advocates, spreading awareness and sharing acquired knowledge with employers, children, families, and farming colleagues.
