SIZA

Healthy workplace relationships depend on more than compliance with labour legislation. They require trust, communication, accountability, and fair processes that allow both employers and employees to address workplace issues appropriately. Two key mechanisms that support this are the disciplinary and grievance processes. Although these processes are often discussed together, they serve very different purposes and… Continue reading Two Sides of the Same Coin:  Understanding the Difference Between Discipline and Grievance Processes

Recent floods, storms and severe weather events across South Africa have placed enormous pressure on agricultural producers, packhouses and rural communities. In several regions, farms have experienced widespread damage to roads, worker housing, fencing, drainage systems, sanitation infrastructure, storage facilities and operational areas. In the wake of these events, an important discussion has emerged within… Continue reading Navigating Compliance During Natural Disasters

The credibility of the SIZA programme is built on the strength and integrity of its third-party audit approach. Central to this is the competency of the audit firms responsible for conducting Social (Ethical) and Environmental audits. These firms play a critical role in ensuring that audit outcomes accurately reflect on-the-ground practices, while meeting both local… Continue reading Ensuring Audit Excellence: How SIZA assures stakeholders that Audit firms and Auditors maintain Competency and Credibility

In the agricultural sector, working beyond standard hours is often unavoidable, especially during peak periods or when essential tasks cannot be delayed. Sundays, in particular, may require attention to critical operations such as irrigation, livestock care, or equipment monitoring. While this is part of the reality of farming, it is important for employers to understand… Continue reading Overtime on a Sunday in Agriculture: Getting the Wages Calculation Right

In the agricultural sector, operations are often dictated by factors beyond human control, such as weather events, animal health, perishable produce, and time-sensitive harvests. As a result, urgent or unforeseen work outside normal hours is not uncommon. However, from a legal perspective, not all urgent work automatically qualifies under compliance requirements as “emergency work.” Let’s… Continue reading Emergency Work in Agriculture: Understanding Compliance and Audit Expectations

Current state of biosecurity Biosecurity concerns have increasingly plagued South African agriculture in recent years, with Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) declared a National Disaster during the recent 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA). Thus far in 2026, South Africa has experienced one of the most severe biosecurity periods in recent history, including outbreaks of FMD,… Continue reading What an auditor must check for if livestock is on site, including biosecurity measures

It is common for agricultural businesses, especially during peak season, to make use of Temporary Employment Services (TES) to supplement their workforce. While this practice provides flexibility and operational support, it has also raised important compliance questions during social audits. Over the past few years, recurring uncertainties have emerged: •     What is required from a… Continue reading Auditing a Temporary Employment Service Provider – What Do You Need to Know?

In the agricultural sector, on-farm housing remains a common and often essential arrangement. However, providing accommodation to employees without a clear, written housing agreement exposes both the employer and the occupant to unnecessary legal and operational risk. From a SIZA perspective, formal housing agreements are not merely administrative documents but a key document that ensures… Continue reading Housing Agreements: What is important when looking at a housing agreement?

A third-party audit remains a cornerstone of the SIZA Audit process. It provides a credible, objective picture of a supplier’s on-site practices to stakeholders in South Africa and buyers across global markets. In an increasingly transparent, due diligence-driven world, an audit measures compliance and helps to shape perceptions and convey a picture of the grassroots… Continue reading The Role Auditors Can Play to Strengthen Compliance, Transparency and Trust

In any credible compliance programme, the integrity of the third-party audit process is paramount. The primary objective of an audit is to provide an independent, objective, and standardised evaluation of a supplier’s practices. For this reason, it is essential that the audit process remain free from undue influence and be conducted in accordance with fair… Continue reading Protecting the Integrity of the Compliance Process:  Auditors vs Consultants