SIZA Connect Newsletter

The audit process has been a catalyst for driving sustainable change in the global supply chain for a number of years as the number of workplace violations have been reduced through the principle of driving continuous improvement. The completion of audits on farms, packhouses, processing facilities and in the workplace in general have provided an… Continue reading SIZA Best Practice Programme

Due to a multitude of risks within each business, it is crucial that we understand how important it becomes for a buyer, based locally or globally, to have an assessment of a business’s risks and what it has done or could still be done to improve or mitigate those risks. As part of this understanding… Continue reading What is the value of auditors to the South African Agricultural export industry?

As gevolg van ‘n verskeidenheid risiko’s binne ons besighede, is dit van kardinale belang dat ons verstaan hoe belangrik dit vir ‘n koper word, of dit nou plaaslik of wêreldwyd is, om ‘n beoordeling van ‘n besigheid se risiko’s te hê en te verstaan wat gedoen is of gedoen kan word om daardie risiko’s te… Continue reading Wat is die waarde van ouditeure vir die landou uitvoerbedryf in Suid-Afrika?

For most producers in South Africa involved in the export trade, the answer to this question is a resounding ‘YES’. With producers being ultimately responsible for the implementation and selection of the audit programme to be undertaken, there are a few aspects to consider and take into consideration when making this decision. This will ultimately… Continue reading Is your buyer / exporter/ importer asking you for a social or environmental audit compliance letter / certificate?

The example below looks at a hypothetical producer with a farm and a packhouse growing and packing table grapes and citrus for export to North America, the UK, and Europe. Through the equivalence and benchmarks provided by SIZA, this producer has an estimated saving of R44 160 per year related to compliance costs.

The 2022 Budget proposal announced early in 2022 resulted in a proposal for Phase 2 of the Carbon Tax roll-out in South Africa to be delayed – it proposed that Phase 2 of the Carbon Tax be delayed by three years and become effective on 31 December 2025.

Producers can freely access all the relevant legislation promulgated by government, along with the applicable international legislation that applies to their compliance, on the SIZA website.

The provision of accommodation for permanent and seasonal employees is a common phenomenon within the South African agricultural industry, even though there is no legal duty or requirement for the producer to do so.

Both the SIZA Social and Environmental Standards were developed in line with local legislation, however seeing that the SIZA primary members (South African suppliers) do business across country borders, the standards are measured against global requirements such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) principles, European Union Green Deal, etc.

A compressed work week allows an employer to proactively have employees work longer hours than the regular agreed-upon hours in a situation where this is warranted, without paying overtime.