Page 6 - GSA Annual Report / Jaarverslag 2013

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Grain SA is however of the opinion that grain producers should not view all challenges as threats.
Good labour practises and higher wages should be viewed as opportunities.
Information drives the grain producers’ decision-making process. Although some producers might argue
that cost effective production and mechanisation compel them to retrench some of their labourers, grain
producers could invest more in the training of their farm labourers to make a valuable contribution in
order to alleviate the sea of jobless and poor people, thereby benefitting all South Africans.
Let us not avoid labour issues; let us confront the challenge of higher wages with higher productivity.
Grain SA spreads the message that all labour practises remain non-negotiable in the farming
environment and in general.
Other challenges that agriculture inevitably will have to face in the near future will require organised
agriculture to ensure that it has a streamlined, effective and relevant vehicle to elevate the sector
to a new level.
The strategic decision of Grain SA to relocate its head office from Bothaville to Pretoria and the
Organisation’s establishment and maintenance of partnerships with government, input suppliers and
producers, were integral parts of the process to retain our relevancy.
Grain SA recognises its leadership responsibility to establish further transformation in agriculture
and to prepare the road ahead by fostering and expanding its partnerships with role-players in
the grain industry.
Overview (continued)
Oorsig (vervolg)
Graan SA is egter van mening dat graanprodusente nie alle uitdagings as bedreigings moet beskou nie.
Goeie arbeidspraktyke en hoër lone behoort as geleenthede beskou te word.
Inligting is die stukrag agter die graanprodusent se besluitnemingsproses. Hoewel sommige
produsente kan beweer dat kostedoeltreffende produksie en meganisering hulle dwing om van
hulle plaaswerkers af te lê, kan graanprodusente meer in die opleiding van hulle werkers belê om
sodoende ‘n uiters waardevolle bydrae te lewer tot die verligting van die magdom van werkloosheid
en armoede, tot voordeel van alle Suid-Afrikaners.
Ons moenie arbeidskwessies vermy nie – ons moet die uitdaging van hoër lone met hoër produktiwiteit
oplos. Graan SA versprei die boodskap dat goeie arbeidspraktyke, nie slegs in die landbousektor nie,
maar ook in die algemeen, ononderhandelbaar is.
Grain SA recognises
its leadership
responsibility to
establish further
transformation in
agriculture.