Arbeidsverhoudinge in die landbousektor met verwysing na die Bloemfontein-omgewing

[摘要] English: The recommendations of the Wiehahn Commission's enquiry into labour affairs, lead to a general upgrading and democratization of industrial relations in South Africa. One of the largest employers the agricultural sector has, however, largely been neglected in so far as statutory regulation of labour relations is concerned. In the absence of the Industrial Relations Act and the Wage Act, certain basic labour rights of farm workers, such as the right to organize and withhold labour, are not protected. Farm wages are notregulated by law and therefore the possibility of exploitation exists. Moreover a lack of mechanisms for collective bargaining by farm workers has resulted in a one-sided dictation of labour relations by farmers and in some cases, in paternalistic and discriminatory labour practices. Negotiations between the state, organized agriculture and labour (dating back a decade) have recentIy Iead to labour reforms in agriculture, resulting in the Unemployment Insurance Act and the Basic Conditions of Employment Act being extended to include farm workers. In November 1992 the Minister of Manpower committed the government to the extension of remaining labour laws viz the Industrial Relations Act and the Wage Act, to agriculture. The South African Agriculture Union and Cosatu, locked in continued debate on this issue, have thus far failed to reach consensus on the nature of labour legislation and are faced with the problem of bringing about change which is both truly reformative and sensitive to the unique features of the agricultural sector. In this process account has to be taken of the actual manifestation oflabour relations and labour practices in agriculture on a general level, but also in specific areas. The labour set-up in different agricultural areas and enterprises does, after all, differ substantially.This study is an attempt to develop an understanding of the nature, problems and dynamics of labour relations in agriculture by means of a literature and empirical enquiry. The literature study manifests in a historical overview of labour relations in South Africa, in particular recent developments in the agricultural sector, discussion of farm workers' rights to organize and strike and the legitimization of such rights, and reconstruction of general research findings on labour practices in agriculture. It is concluded that labour relations can be upgraded by democratization and formalization of labour practices and by the extension of labour laws which uphold the labour rights of farm workers. The empirical study, being an attempt to satisfy the need for local (area specific) information on the manifestation of labour relations, results in an exploratory and descriptive profile of the labour situation on farms in the Bloemfontein area. Seeing that attitudes and practices which have been established and entrenched over centuries, cannot simply be eradicated by changing statutory regulations, cognizance istaken of aspects relating to the extension of labour laws to agriculture. Informal and paternalistic practices are striking features of labour relations on farms. The informality of agricultural labour practices reflects the unique circumstances in the agricultural sector, which include a dependence on seasonal and climatic factors, and thus emphasizes the need for flexible labour laws with regard to agriculture. Nevertheless, it is clear that the one-sided dictation of labour relations cannot continue. Therefore greater standardization and formalization of labour practices are recommended, and mechanisms for accomplishing the aforementioned and giving farm workers more say in labour affairs on farms are suggested.The value of the study lies in it's being an attempt to contribute to the greater sociological endeavour of understanding the relation between employer and employee, and the inherent conflictive nature of this relation, and addressing resulting problems.

[发布机构] University of the Free State