Refreshed expert tackling forced labour and embedding responsible recruitment toolkit for South African agri-businesses

Stronger Together is pleased to announce the relaunch of our free expert guidance toolkit for South African agri-businesses. Available in Afrikaans and English*, the toolkit informs and equips businesses to implement best labour practices containing template workplace policies and detailed checklist to help meet growing market requirements. 

Originally launched in 2017 with the support of strategic collaborators the Wine and Agricultural Ethical Trade Association (Wieta) and the Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (Siza), over 1562 businesses have already used the toolkit and 94.9% report using it to strengthen their policies and procedures as part of their ethical trade journey. Developed with industry experts Stronger Together’s toolkit contains a wealth of knowledge and information on the topic of responsible recruitment, fair work and labour exploitation. The toolkit has been updated with the on-going support of programme sponsors Alko, BerryWorld, Sainsbury’s, Systembolaget, Tesco, Vinmonopolet and Woolworths and aims to better equip businesses to understand key labour risks in their business operation and supply chain including: 

• Understanding what the latest international market requirements are on forced labour and labour exploitation and how to mitigate risks. 
• Detailed template checklists which can be used to monitor compliance including the use of Temporary Employment Services (TES). 
• Contextualized local guidance on best South African labour practices when it comes to sourcing and recruitment of workers, overtime, wage payments and deductions, freedom of movement and termination of service.   

“It is important for us to increase knowledge and awareness of responsible human rights and good labour practices by providing training for businesses in our supply chains. The refreshed Stronger Together toolkit is a great resource to help us achieve this goal. Businesses will find value in this detailed and practical guidance.” – South Africa Programme Sponsors  

A Management Systems Approach

The refreshed toolkit now follows a clearer management system approach to implementing good labour practices. Aligned to international standards this management system approach provides easy to follow steps to all businesses regardless of if they are new to the topic or are looking at reviewing their internal processes. This management system approach now provides a clear and efficient pathway to embed responsible recruitment, fair work and to mitigate the risk of labour exploitation.   

As with previous versions the toolkit has been designed to be a practical, adaptable and user-friendly resource which can be used by businesses to safeguard its operations and raise awareness amongst its staff.  

We know this updated version of the toolkit will remain a firm favourite resource for all businesses on our programme and invite you to explore it today!  

*English version is currently available with the Afrikaans version available from December  

Click here to view and download.

Verfrisde deskundige hulpmiddelstel vir
Suid-Afrikaanse agribesighede oor gedwonge arbeid en verantwoordelike werwing

Stronger Together is verheug om die bekendstelling van ons gratis deskundige riglyn-hulpmiddelstel vir Suid-Afrikaanse agribesighede aan te kondig. Dit is beskikbaar in Afrikaans en Engels*. Die hulpmiddelstel lig besighede in en rus hulle toe om beste arbeidspraktyke te implementeer. Dit bevat templaat-werkplekbeleide en gedetailleerde kontrolelyste om te help met die nakoming van groeiende markvereistes.

Hierdie hulpmiddelstel is oorspronklik geloods in 2017 met die ondersteuning van strategiese vennote die Etiese handelsvereniging vir die wyn- en landboubedryf (WIETA) en die Volhoubaarheidinisiatief van Suid-Afrika (SIZA). Meer as 1 562 besighede het reeds die hulpmiddelstel gebruik en 94.9% het gemeld dat hulle dit gebruik om hul beleide en prosedures te versterk as deel van hulle etiese handelsreis. Dit is ontwikkel in oorleg met bedryfsdeskundiges en bevat breedvoerige kennis en inligting oor die onderwerp van verantwoordelike werwing, billike werk en arbeidsuitbuiting. Hierdie hulpmiddelstel is opgedateer met die deurlopende ondersteuning van programborge Alko, BerryWorld, Sainsbury’s, Systembolaget, Tesco, Vinmonopolet en Woolworths, en het ten doel om besighede beter toe te rus om sleutel arbeidsrisiko’s in hul besigheidsbedrywighede en verskaffingsketting te verstaan, insluitend:

• ‘n Begrip van die jongste internasionale markvereistes oor gedwonge arbeid en arbeidsuitbuiting, en hoe om risiko’s te verlaag.
• Gedetailleerde templaat-kontrolelyste wat gebruik kan word om nakoming te moniteer, insluitend die gebruik van tydelike indiensnemingsdienste (TES’e).
• Gekontekstualiseerde plaaslike leiding oor die beste Suid-Afrikaanse arbeidspraktyke ten opsigte van werwing en verkryging van werkers, oortyd, loonbetalings en aftrekkings, vryheid van beweging en diensbeëindiging.

“Dit is belangrik vir ons om kennis en bewustheid van verantwoordelike menseregte en goeie arbeidspraktyke te verhoog deur opleiding vir besighede in ons verskaffingskettings te bied. Die verfrisde Stronger Together-hulpmiddelstel is ‘n fantastiese hulpbron om te help om hierdie doelwit te verwesenlik. Besighede sal waarde vind in hierdie gedetailleerde en praktiese leiding.” – Suid-Afrika-programborge

‘n Bestuurstelsel-benadering

Die verfrisde hulpmiddelstel volg ‘n duideliker bestuurstelsel-benadering tot die implementering van goeie arbeidspraktyke. Hierdie benadering is belyn met internasionale standaarde en bied maklike stappe om te volg aan alle besighede ongeag of hulle nuut tot die proses is, of bloot hul interne prosesse wil hersien. Hierdie bestuurstelsel-benadering verskaf nou ‘n duidelike en doeltreffende roete tot die vaslegging van verantwoordelike werwing, billike werk en verlaging van arbeidsuitbuiting-risiko. 

Soos met die vorige weergawes, is hierdie hulpmiddelstel ontwerp om prakties, aanpasbaar en gebruikersvriendelik te wees. Dit is ‘n hulpbron wat gebruik kan word deur besighede om hul bedrywighede te beveilig en bewustheid te verhoog onder personeel.

Ons is seker dat hierdie opgedateerde weergawe van die hulpmiddlestel ‘n gunsteling-hulpbron sal bly vir alle besighede op ons program en nooi jou uit om dit te verken!

* Die Engelse weergawe is tans beskikbaar en die Afrikaanse weergawe sal vanaf Desember beskikbaar wees.

Kliek hier om dit te besigtig en af te laai.

Tags: South Africa, agriculture, toolkit

Categorised in: Forced Labour, South Africa, Toolkit, Agriculture