Over the last several years, SIZA and the LEAF Marque programme have aligned their efforts in providing South African producers with a time and cost-effective approach when it comes to conducting third-party audits against these standards.
Housing – is the producer responsible for unmade beds, dirty dishes, or other hygiene matters inside an occupant’s house? If a business offers accommodation to its workers, certain legislative requirements are applicable to that business, and also certain compliance criteria will be measured. The “state of the occupants living arrangements” is not regulated by law, […]
“Expanded Public Works Programme,” also referred to as EPWP, refers to a programme that provides public or community services through various government programmes.
What happens when a person is sick the day before a public holiday or even unable to come to work the day before or after a public holiday? This is often a head-scratcher for many employers as one is unsure whether the worker must be paid for the public holiday or not, or whether a medical certificate can be requested from the worker.
A SIZA audit can take place at any time just before or after the peak period, for example, pruning, harvesting, etc. It does not have to occur in the middle of the busiest period/harvest or packing time, as long as the minimum requirements are met and a full risk evaluation can take place.
The recruitment of workers resonates under the Forced and Bonded Labour principle in the SIZA Code Requirements. It is not just an everyday practice in agriculture but one of the most important parts of the sourcing and onboarding process, especially when it comes to seasonal labour.
In 2023, SIZA launched a written guideline, along with in-person and online training, on all legislative requirements pertaining to labour requirements related to wage calculations, benefits, terms and conditions, working hours, and more. This training, since its launch in June 2023, has made a visible impact, as the number of non-compliances in these Principle Codes has decreased by 35,15% when comparing the data from January to December 2023.
Since SIZA was formalised in 2016 as a free-standing membership-based NPC, we have seen exponential growth within SIZA and our primary members’ journey to compliance.
Do you need to service your bakkie every year? If your answer is yes, then you will understand that you need to do the same with your labour and sustainability compliance practices.
As the agricultural landscape transitions towards sustainability and global markets demand ethical and sustainable compliance, the integration of effective monitoring and traceability mechanisms becomes a game-changer for your business’s success.