Strikes, sometimes violent, hit South Africa’s vineyards and fruit farms earlier this year and late 2012. The workers have asked for strong wage increases which they also got beginning of February. The minimum wage is raised to 105 rand per day (about $12) from the previous 69 rand per day ($8). Employers fear, however, that the wage increase will bring lay-offs and that South Africa will lose its competitiveness. (The new higher daily pay is similar to what a picker in France earns. Per hour.)
However, a report from the Bureau for Food and Agriculture Policy shows that 105 rand per day is not enough for the daily needs of a worker. Not even 150 rand per day (about $17), which was the original requirement of the strikers, would have been sufficient.
The working conditions of South Africa’s farm workers were highlighted in a report in 2011 by Human Rights Watch. The report talked about the violation of human rights and labour exploitation.
Perhaps this is something to keep in mind when one is tempted to buy that “very good value” not-expensive-at-all wine on the supermarket shelf? How much will the people who did all the hard work actually get when the wine is at rock-bottom price?
