Wednesday 31 May 2017

'Without dignity human life is substantially diminished'. Meaningful engagement at the heart of social change

On the 11th May 2017 the Constitutional Court handed down an important judgment in the case of Daniels v Scribante and Another (Case CCT 50/16). The significance of this case has been highlighted by constitutional law expert Prof Pierre de Vos in a recent opinion piece appearing in the Daily Maverick on 18th May.

At face value the case involves a series of disputes between Yolanda Daniels and Theo Scribante of Chardonne Properties CC, Ms Daniels is a domestic worker and household head who has lived in a house on the farm for 16 years and as such has the status of an occupier in terms of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA). However the case goes to the heart of the complex relationship between owners and occupiers in a constitutional democracy where the Constitution has enshrined the right to security of tenure.


Friday 19 May 2017

Agrivillages and employer assisted housing on new Human Settlements Agenda

At a media briefing in Cape Town on 18th May ahead of the Human Settlements Budget Vote the Minister of Human Settlements made announcements of relevance to workers and employers in the agricultural sector.

Thursday 18 May 2017

Wanted: A new deal for farm workers

Farm workers remain a poorly served and largely neglected constituency. A recent report commissioned by the Laborie Dialogue Initiative[1] provides a comprehensive review of the factors influencing provision of housing, services and tenure security for farm workers. The report makes a number of proposals in order to start a conversation about a new deal for farm workers.

Towards decent work in agriculture

This new blog sets out to record, link up and amplify the impacts of social dialogue initiatives in the agricultural sector with aim of improving living and working conditions on farms and within the agricultural value chain. Our primary focus is on the Western Cape and the Cape Winelands District, but we will also feature examples from elsewhere in the country, the region and internationally.