Our Policy Focus
Shaping policy
Strengthening agriculture
Our Policy Focus
Centre of Excellence (CoE)
Labour CoE
The Labour Centre of Excellence CoE serves as AgriSA’s leading platform for shaping labour and employment relations within the agricultural sector. The centre works to ensure a stable, fair, and well-regulated labour environment that supports both the sustainability of farming enterprises and the development and wellbeing of the agricultural workforce.
Guided by its mandate, the Labour CoE leads policy engagement and advocacy on key labour legislation, including the National Minimum Wage, employment equity laws, immigration policies, and broader labour regulations that directly influence the agricultural sector. By proactively liaising with government bodies, industry partners, and organised labour, the centre ensures that the unique dynamics and challenges of agricultural employment are fully understood and incorporated into national labour frameworks.
A major strategic focus of the centre is advancing a fair and evidence-driven National Minimum Wage process. This includes engaging the National Minimum Wage Commission, contributing to independent wage studies, and collaborating with with the broader organised business to ensure agricultural realities are reflected in national decisions. The centre also leads discussions with the Department of Labour on employment equity, working to shape sectoral targets while highlighting agriculture’s specific skill and workforce needs.
The Labour and trade CoE strengthens AgriSA’s role in labour policy by fast-tracking discussions with external stakeholders, gathering intelligence on trade unionism, and ensuring balanced public discourse on working conditions in the sector. Additional areas of leadership include developing guidance on AgriBEE sector codes, participating in the AgriSETA Board to promote skills development, and working with the Department of Home Affairs to address corporate visa challenges affecting agricultural employers.
Ultimately, the Labour Centre of Excellence safeguards members’ rights and responsibilities, promotes job creation and retention, and ensures compliance with labour, immigration, and equity requirements.