Farm workers - minimum wage is law

"We believe most farmers will comply, but we emphasise that those who are unable to pay should apply for relief. Government has this mechanism in place to provide support for those who really can't afford it," he said.

Boikanyo said the department's focus was to process the applications it received from farmers, but said it was unclear how long this process would take. He could not say how many applications for assistance the department had received.

Farmers seeking relief would need to submit their financial records to the department to prove their financial distress.

Earlier this month, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant announced the new minimum wages for farmworkers. At the time, the Transvaal Agricultural Union (TAU SA) said farmers would have no choice but to retrench workers and cut costs to survive.

The farmers' union said at least 2,000 farmworkers had been notified of their impending retrenchment, mostly in Limpopo. General manager Bennie van Zyl said most of the retrenchments were due to farmers mechanising their operations.

He warned that the effect of the minimum wage increase would have on consumers and the country's food security were "unimaginable".

Farm workers went on strike last year, demanding that the minimum daily wage be increased from R69 to R150, and that a cohesive land reform programme be implemented.

Source: Sapa via I-Net Bridge