Farm workers getting less than a fair deal

The Namibian Farmworkers Union (Nafwu) has claimed that workers on up to 40 percent of the 200 farms it surveyed were being paid less than the minimum wage. While most farmers complied with minimum wage legislation, some workers were earning as little as N$ 100 (US $13) per month, instead of the N$ 429 (US $56) required by law, Nafwu national organiser Samson Amupanda told IRIN on Wednesday. Many workers were also not receiving the N$ 210 (US $27) per month they should be paid when the farmer does not provide them with food. "The black farmers say they have just bought the farm and are still busy paying back the loan, so they can't afford to pay the minimum wage," Amupanda said. "But that's no excuse, they must have a business plan and consider labour costs." He added that farmers had had enough time to comment on the new minimum wage legislation, passed in January, but many did not do so. "People are living in terrible conditions. Some are living in shacks and are paid very low wages. On some farms there are children up to the age of 13 who have never gone to school," Amupanda added. Jan de Wet, president of the National Agricultural Union, which represents most of the country's commercial farmers, told IRIN that "90 percent or more" of its members complied with the minimum wage legislation, with some paying above it. "The minimum wage was a result of negotiations between the minister of labour, farmers, employees and unions and we [as farmers] declared ourselves committed to it. We think N$ 429 is affordable and reasonable," he said. Amupanda said the union would carry out further investigations before "naming and shaming" the errant farmers, which he alleged included some MPs. Last year a report on union organisation in Namibia said agricultural labourers, along with domestic workers, were among "the most impoverished and marginalised" Namibians. Because labour was mainly casual in the communal areas, with employment often lasting only a day or two, it was difficult for workers to enter into fixed contracts with their employers. "The labourers who, amongst others, include the San people and illegal immigrants, are at the mercy of their employers for their basic survival and are therefore in a weak position to demand their rights." The report also noted that it was difficult for trade unions to gain access to farms to monitor conditions.