Farm dwellers and workers’ organisations protested outside Parliament on Friday, calling for transparency around pesticide regulations. Photo: Liezl Human
The post Farm workers demand transparency on pesticide regulations was first published on GroundUp
Liezl Human reports that about 70 people from organizations and unions representing farm dwellers and workers protested outside Parliament in Cape Town, demanding transparency and consultation over pesticide regulations. Colette Solomon, director of Women on Farms Project, criticized the process for lacking transparency and not involving farm workers and dwellers.
The protest followed recent regulations by the former Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, which issued guidelines for pesticide exemptions. The department has since split into two ministries, with DA party leader John Steenhuisen appointed as Minister of Agriculture. Solomon expressed concerns about the DA’s stance on the national minimum wage and free market policies. Steenhuisen, responding to GroundUp, found the protest premature, as he was just sworn in and emphasized an open-door policy, inviting direct dialogue.
Nicolene McGee, a seasonal farm worker, highlighted the lack of protective clothing during pesticide spraying and mentioned her struggle to survive on minimum wage with only eight months of employment annually. Vainola Makan from the Surplus People’s Project stated that farm workers’ right to health had been compromised, with no dialogue on pesticide impact.
Organizations like the African Centre for Biodiversity and the Commercial, Stevedoring, Agricultural and Allied Workers Union participated in the picket. They collectively rejected draft regulations for hazardous chemical agents under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, managed by the Department of Employment and Labour.
