South Africa Wine Project

ETI Experimental Projects

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Introduction to Project

Labour conditions in agriculture worldwide are frequently poor. In South Africa post apartheid great efforts had been taken to improve labour legislation so that it’s laws are amongst the strongest. But implementation remained patchy. The project arose from discussion at the ILO governing body between UK union representatives and members of the South Africa delegation discussing mechanisms to speed change. It ran from late 1998 until mid-2001.

Project aims and objectives

To develop a robust collaborative multi-stakeholder methodology for inspecting against labour standards, ETI Base Code and South African Law. To increase capacity within the Western Cape for assessing and effecting change towards compliance with South African law and international standards.

Key achievements and challenges

A tripartite group of ETI members built relationships over a three-year period with wine producers, NGOs and labour unions in South Africa. Relationships were also established with the South African government and Department of Labour to seek their support for the work. Over three years the project carried out three rounds of inspections of six wineries/co-operatives and their farms. Starting out with supermarket staff supported by translators, the inspection methodology evolved with the expertise and knowledge of Cape and UK NGOs, trade unions, academics and labour lawyers. The inspection team composition was modified and expanded and over the three years and the farms carried out improvements following development of plans from the inspection reports. Arising from the relationships established in the project, the producers, trade unions and NGOs involved in the project decided to combine to create a local monitoring initiative called the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA). The Department of Labour took an observer role in this new body to maximise synergies with its labour inspection services.

The Pilot closed in 2001 and a report recording the development of the methodology is available. However, in line with ETI’s strategy to support local monitoring initiatives, under its capacity development programme, ETI provided some core funding to WIETA for the year 2003-2004, to enable it to develop materials including its manual, worker training leaflets and to support the training of inspectors. WIETA continues today as a model of a highly effective, tri-partite, sustainable audit agency competent to uphold industry-wide standards.

Who was involved?

ETI Members:
Companies: CWS, J Sainsbury, Tesco and six of their suppliers in the Western Cape
Trade unions: TUC and it’s partners in South Africa
NGOs: Christian Aid, Fairtrade Foundation and their partners in the Western Cape

Other:
UK Wine Agent: Raisin Social
South African trade unions: FAWU, SAAPAWU, COSATU, NACTU
South African NGOs: Centre For Rural Legal Studies, Women on Farms Project
Academics: Stephanie Barrientos, Joachim Ewert, Andries du Toit.
 

For further information contact:

eti@eti.org.uk

 

 

Project documents:

1. Request copy of Project Report
2. Baseline study [PDF; 167kb]

Relevant links:

WIETA:
www.wosa.co.za/wieta.asp

See also:

Reports on the ETI impact assessment, 2006: Part 2c: Findings and recommendations from a case study in South Africa (fruit)

ETI Library: Annual Reports: ETI Annual Review 2002/2003: Page 15 & Page 17

ETI Events: Conferences: Biennial conference 2003:
Chapter 3 - Building local multi-stakeholder code initiatives: the example of WIETA.