South African suppliers have demonstrated that commitment and active participation in the Stronger Together programme can substantially improve responsible recruitment practices and prevent forced and bonded labour. Since the programme’s implementation in 2017, the industry has seen a remarkable 75% decrease in related findings by the end of 2024. This highlights the programme’s positive and successful role in raising awareness and creating trust in working closely with SIZA within the broader value chain.
A review of SIZA Social audits, which assess compliance with ethical labour standards, shows a clear decline in the severity and number of findings related to forced and bonded labour. This progress underscores the industry’s dedication to ethical labour practices and continuous improvement.
Key Areas of Non-Conformance
Despite the progress, some areas should be improved. The main issues identified under this code principle during SIZA audits in the past 12 months include:
Training Deficiencies: Lack of evidence that senior managers, recruiters, supervisors, and consultants have attended training on recognising, preventing, and addressing forced labour, labour trafficking, and third-party labour exploitation. (This forms 86% of all forced and bonded-related non-conformances).
Employee Awareness: Employees have not received a sufficient introduction to forced labour nor been made adequately aware of how to recognise and report exploitation. (10% of all forced and bonded-related non-conformances)
Lack of Clear Procedures: Businesses do not have a clear procedure outlining the steps management, supervisors, and employees should take to prevent and respond to forced or bonded labour. (1% of all forced and bonded-related non-conformances)
Risk Ratings of Findings
The findings related to forced and bonded labour were predominantly low-risk. The breakdown of risk ratings is as follows:
- 65% classified as Minor non-compliance
- 18% identified as Observations
- 1% classified as a Major finding
- 16% raised as Recommendations
These results indicate that while there is room for improvement, most non-conformances are of lower risk, showing that businesses are on the right path toward ethical recruitment and labour practices.
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
The South African agricultural industry deserves commendation for its dedication to ethical labour practices and ongoing improvement. By continuing to engage with SIZA in cooperation with the Stronger Together programme, businesses can further enhance their compliance and ethical standing in the global marketplace.
For more information about the Stronger Together programme in South Africa, please contact SIZA or reach out to Evan Cupido at info@stronger2gether.org directly.
