Chamber: SA fruit boycott is irresponsible

07 JAN 2013 16:19 - SAPA Calls for an international boycott of export fruit from South Africa are irresponsible, said the Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry. MORE COVERAGE Cosatu and Agri-SA in farm strike stand-off Western Cape farmworkers gather to resume strike Second man dies in farmworkers protest "A boycott will simply create opportunities for our competitors in South America, Australia and New Zealand to move in and grab our share of the market," said the Chamber's labour analyst Michael Bagraim in a statement on Monday. Last week Congress of South African Trade Unions' provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich said Cosatu would call on the international community to boycott South African agricultural products, because they were produced in "slave labour conditions". "We are also calling on a mandate from the international community to boycott the products of those farmers who do not want to enter into decent negotiations with their workers," he said. Western Cape farm workers went on strike last year demanding R150 in pay per day and a coherent land reform programme. At least two people were killed during protests in farming areas between August 27 and December 4 last year. The strike was suspended but would resume on Wednesday. Boycott likely to do 'permanent damage' The Chamber of Commerce said such a boycott was likely to do permanent damage to the agricultural sector of the Western Cape. Bagraim said that once alternate suppliers entrenched themselves in the market it would be very difficult for South Africa to regain the confidence of customers and recapture lost ground. "As it is the violence and destruction of the farm workers' strike as well as the extravagant demands of union leaders has already got our customers worried. I have no doubt they are already talking to other suppliers," Bagraim said. He said the unions did not seem to understand that agriculture was a vastly different industry from mining. "If work stops on mines there are huge losses but the gold and the platinum remain in the ground for extraction at a later date. On the farms, however, the fruit rots in the fields and a whole year's work and investments are lost forever." This also undermined the sector's ability to invest in next year's crop. Hope for the unskilled and unemployed Bagraim warned that drastic increases in wages would drive up production costs and make South African fruit too expensive. "Increased costs and uncertainty about the labour force will leave farmers no option but to mechanise and that will mean a permanent loss of jobs." He pointed out that agriculture offered the best hope for the unskilled and unemployed people in rural areas to earn some money. "Don't take these opportunities away from people who desperately need to earn money for food and clothing," Bagraim said. – Sapa Mail & Guardian Only a SA Terrorist will suggest this as an answer. Tony Ehrenreich should be careful that his name does not appear on a National 'Hitlist' for his wild Communist Propaganda! He suffers from the "Sour Grapes Syndrome" for losing against Patricia De Lille. Tony Ehrenreidch should rather seek employment on a wine farm than dabble in politics. Maybe he can be "Exported?"