For many years Canada has quietly rationalized importing temporary “low-skilled” migrant labour through managed migration programs to appease industries desiring cheap and flexible labour while avoiding extending citizenship rights to the workers. In an era of international human rights and global competitive markets, the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) is often hailed as a “model” and “win-win” solution to migration and labour dilemmas, providing employers with a healthy, just-in-time labour force and workers with various protections such as local labour standards, health care, and compensation. Tracing migrant workers’ lives between Jamaica, Mexico and Canada (with a focus on Ontario’s Niagara Region), this thesis assesses how their structural vulnerability as non-citizens effectively excludes them from many of the rights and norms otherwise expected in Canada. It analyzes how these exclusions are rationalized as permanent “exceptions” to the normal legal, social and political order, and how these infringements affect workers’ lives, rights, and health. Employing critical medical anthropology, workers’ health concerns are used as a lens through which to understand and explore the deeper “pathologies of power” and moral contradictions which underlie this system. Particular areas of focus include workers’ occupational, sexual and reproductive, and mental and emotional health, as well as an assessment of their access to health care and compensation in Canada, Mexico and Jamaica. Working amidst perilous and demanding conditions, in communities where they remain socially and politically excluded, migrant workers in practice remain largely unprotected and their entitlements hard to secure, an enduring indictment of their exclusion from Canada’s “imagined community.” Yet the dynamics of this equation may be changing in light of the recent rise in social and political movements, in which citizenship and related rights have become subject to contestation and redefinition. In analyzing the various dynamics which underlie transnational migration, limit or extend migrants’ rights, and influence the health of migrants across borders, this thesis explores crucial relationships between these themes. Further work is needed to measure these ongoing changes, and to address the myriad health concerns of migrants as they live and work across national borders.

For many years Canada has quietly rationalized importing temporary “low-skilled” migrant labour through managed migration programs to appease industries desiring cheap and flexible labour while avoiding extending citizenship rights to the workers. In an era of international human rights and global competitive markets, the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) is often hailed as a “model” and “win-win” solution to migration and labour dilemmas, providing employers with a healthy, just-in-time labour force and workers with various protections such as local labour standards, health care, and compensation. Tracing migrant workers’ lives between Jamaica, Mexico and Canada (with a focus on Ontario’s Niagara Region), this thesis assesses how their structural vulnerability as non-citizens effectively excludes them from many of the rights and norms otherwise expected in Canada. It analyzes how these exclusions are rationalized as permanent “exceptions” to the normal legal, social and political order, and how these infringements affect workers’ lives, rights, and health. Employing critical medical anthropology, workers’ health concerns are used as a lens through which to understand and explore the deeper “pathologies of power” and moral contradictions which underlie this system. Particular areas of focus include workers’ occupational, sexual and reproductive, and mental and emotional health, as well as an assessment of their access to health care and compensation in Canada, Mexico and Jamaica. Working amidst perilous and demanding conditions, in communities where they remain socially and politically excluded, migrant workers in practice remain largely unprotected and their entitlements hard to secure, an enduring indictment of their exclusion from Canada’s “imagined community.” Yet the dynamics of this equation may be changing in light of the recent rise in social and political movements, in which citizenship and related rights have become subject to contestation and redefinition. In analyzing the various dynamics which underlie transnational migration, limit or extend migrants’ rights, and influence the health of migrants across borders, this thesis explores crucial relationships between these themes. Further work is needed to measure these ongoing changes, and to address the myriad health concerns of migrants as they live and work across national borders.

The thesis deals with the difficulties concerning alcohol use and misuse among Coloured farm workers within the heart of the wine industry in South Africa. The current extent of alcohol use and misuse in the rural areas of the Western Cape Province is commonly referred to as the legacy of the dop system. The dop system was a legislative practice whereas farm workers were provided with small portions of cheap wine throughout the workday. The practice was racially targeted towards Coloureds and thus contributed to the creation of a dependent labour force and extensive alcohol-related difficulties among Coloured farm workers. The dop system was formally abolished in 1961 but the practice proceeded into the 1990s. Alcohol related difficulties do however tend to continue without signs of change. The main purpose of the study is to investigate how current difficulties of alcohol use and misuse affect children’s life outcome and educational opportunities. It has also been important to investigate various aspects of living and working conditions in the farm villages that may be linked to alcohol issues. Another aim is to determine contributing factors to the continuance of alcohol use and misuse despite the abolition of the dop system. The work has been conducted according to the method of oral history theories in order to provide a bottom up approach, thus allowing the perspectives and the stories of the farm workers themselves to come forth. Coloured farm workers in the region are largely affected by socio-economic concerns and uncertainty in regards of labour. Inexpensive and readily available alcohol in illegal liquor outlets, so-called shebeens, is a driving force to the consumption of alcohol. Farm workers are partly isolated upon the farm villages and commonly have limited opportunities of unionizing. This makes it crucial to let the farm workers and their families express how alcohol difficulties are manifested in and affecting their daily lives.

The objectives of this study were to establish the effectiveness of chlorpyrifos in suppressing H. armigera population in oranges and to determine the effect chlorpyrifos had on the health of farm pesticide operators. Experiments showed that by applying chlorpyrifos on orange trees, H. armigera larvae population was suppressed significantly. High fruit yields were realized from trees that were sprayed with chlorpyrifos. Visual observation of personnel involved in pesticide related duties, revealed that judicious use of pesticides was not practiced by farm workers in all three farms. Data analysis from questionnaires, health records and interviews proved that farm workers suffered from illnesses that were pesticide related. It was mainly those farm workers in the age group of 31 to 35 years who suffered the most from pesticide related illnesses. / Agriculture and Life Sciences / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Farm workers are viewed as a neglected segment in the South African society. This qualitative research study focused on exploring and describing the social needs of farm workers in the Central Koup from the perspectives of samples comprising of farm workers and farm owners and/or managers. The aim was to contribute in finding solutions to address the identified needs through employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as one of the areas that an occupational social worker focuses on. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and the findings were verified with literature. Tesch’s framework for data analysis (in Creswell, 2003) was employed, and data verification was conducted through Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings indicated that the social needs of farm workers could be addressed through typical EAP-related focus areas such as working- and interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, spiritual well-being, recreation, financial management, conflict management, child care and parenting skills, trauma counselling, and practical assistance regarding transport, housing and accessibility of resources. This research endeavour resulted in recommendations regarding the use of EAPs to address the social needs of farm workers. / M. Soc. Sc.

Summaries in English and Afrikkans / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the labour law position of South African farm workers. For three and a half centuries farm workers constituted the most neglected group in the South African labour force. Consequently, an understanding of their present position can only be obtained by investigating their labour history. As in other parts of the world, farm workers in South Africa held a subordinate position to agricultural employers. Discrimination against black persons added to the inferior socio-economic and political position of South African farm workers. White farmers occupied a strong political position during most of the time under investigation, which enabled them to institute and apply discriminatory legislation and informal methods to overcome labour shortages. The freedom of movement of black people and their access to land were restricted to create a cheap immobile labour force. During the 20th century farmers prevented the inclusion of farm workers in labour legislation by exercising their political influence. Pressure by industrial trade unions and encouragement by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) resulted in the adoption of the Agricultural Labour Act which made labour legislation applicable to farm workers, but precluded them from striking and made allowance for longer working hours than for industrial workers. The new political dispensation facilitated the inclusion of farm workers in general labour legislation without any discriminatory exceptions and land reform legislation now protects farm workers against arbitrary evictions. A bill of rights furthermore guarantees the rights of farm workers which were previously violated. It would superficially seem that farm workers' problems are something of the past. Farm workers, however, remain handicapped in exercising their new rights by historical factors and circumstances peculiar to the agricultural sector. Legal comparison with Ontario and California confirms that legislation alone is insufficient to empower farm workers. It is recommended that the government amend existing legislation to accommodate the special needs of farm workers and that relevant ILO conventions, especially Convention 141 of 1975, be ratified to aid the development of unions for farm workers. This will contribute to the empowerment of and social justice for farm workers. / Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die arbeidsregtelike posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers te ondersoek. Plaaswerkers was vir drie en 'n half eeue die mees afgeskeepte groep in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmag. Om die huidige posisie van plaaswerkers te begryp is dus slegs moontlik deur 'n bestudering van die regsgeskiedenis van plaaswerkers. Soos in ander werelddele beklee plaaswerkers in Suid-Afrika 'n minderwaardige posisie teenoor landbouwerkgewers. Diskriminasie teenoor swartpersonehet bygedra tot die sosio-ekonomiese en polities minderwaardige posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers. Blanke boere het gedurende die grootste deel van die tydperk onder bespreking 'n sterk politiese posisie beklee wat hulle in staat gestel het om diskriminerende wetgewing en informele metodes aan te wend om arbeidstekorte te bowe te kom. Swart persone se bewegingsvryheid en toegang tot grond is beperk om 'n goedkoop immobiele werksmag te vorm. Gedurende die 20ste eeu het boere se sterk politiese posisie hulle in staat gestel om te verhoed dat plaaswerkers by arbeidswetgewing ingesluit word. Druk deur industriele vakbonde en aanmoediging deur die Intemasionale Arbeidsorganisasie (IAO) het gelei tot die Wet op Landbou-arbeid waardeur arbeidswetgewing op plaaswerkers van toepassing gemaak is, maar wat plaaswerkers verbied het om te staak en wat voorsiening gemaak het vir langer werkure as vir industriele werkers. 'n Nuwe politieke bedeling het gelei tot die insluiting van plaaswerkers in algemene arbeidswetgewing sonder enige diskriminerende uitsonderings en grondhervormingswetgewing beskerm plaaswerkers nou teen arbitrere uitsettings. 'n Handves van menseregte waarborg verder die regte van plaaswerkers wat voorheen misken is. Oenskynlik is die probleme van plaaswerkers nou iets van die verlede. Plaaswerkers word egter steeds in die uitoefening van hulle nuwe regte gestrem deur historiese faktore en die eiesoortige omstandighede van die landbousektor. Regsvergelyking met Kalifomie en Ontario het aangetoon <lat wetgewing alleen nie voldoende is om plaaswerkers te bemagtig nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering bestaande wetgewing wysig om voorsiening te maak vir die spesiale behoeftes van plaaswerkers en dat relevante IA0 konvensies, veral Konvensie 141 van 197 5 geratifiseer word om die ontwikkeling van vakbonde vir plaaswerkers te bevorder. Dit sal bydra tot die bemagtiging van en tot sosiale geregtigheid vir plaaswerkers / Law / LL.D.

A travers diverses sources et particulièrement des sources orales recueillies auprès d’anciens militants communistes simples adhérents ou responsables et d’articles de la presse communiste martiniquaise, cette thèse cherche à éclairer sur la ferveur militante d’hommes et de femmes de la Martinique, d’une famille politique essentielle dans le courant du XXe siècle.Cette étude parcourt une longue période s’étendant principalement de 1920 à 1971, montrant les débuts balbutiants du communisme à la Martinique, son ascension, sa période florissante et les débuts de son lent déclin. La problématique est d’abord de faire découvrir des Martiniquais dans leur vécu de militant communiste, montrer comment ces hommes et ces femmes s’approprièrent une doctrine, la transformèrent peut-être pour l’adapter à leurs besoins, à leur culture. Il s’agit également d’examiner quelle structure communiste fut mise en place en Martinique, cette organisation était-elle à l’image des fédérations métropolitaines ou était-ce une formation politique spécifique au milieu martiniquais?Ensuite pour mieux appréhender les choix et les parcours, il a fallu arriver à l’identification des modèles, des origines de ce militantisme et la formation des militants. Les référents furent tant des figures propres au marxisme et au socialisme international et national que des personnalités contestataires du milieu politique martiniquais.Puis proposer une lecture des pratiques et des stratégies militantes pour évaluer la qualité et la particularité de cette militance ainsi que les conséquences de l’engagement de ces militants dans différentes sphères. Quelles étaient leurs propositions, pourquoi leurs revendications politiques différaient-elles de celles des autres communistes coloniaux ? Comment expliquer leurs choix d’une nouvelle société plus égalitaire dans un État socialiste mais toujours associé à la France ?Ce travail de recherches positionne cette militance au centre d’une analyse qui explore l’histoire politique et sociale d’une population, en s’appuyant sur d’autres disciplines comme la sociobiographie et les sciences politiques. Il examine le façonnement d’une société par un groupe politique prégnant entre 1920 et 1971, ainsi que les réponses de ce groupe face à différents problèmes politiques et sociaux en privilégiant une approche par les acteurs. / Through various sources, particularly oral sources collected from ancient communists, ordinary members or officials, and articles of martinican Communist press, this thesis shows about the militant fervor of martinican men and women and essential political family in the course of the twentieth century. This study covers a long period extending mainly from 1920 to 1971 showing the early stuttering of communism in Martinique, his ascension, his prosperous period and the beginning of his slow decline. The issue is first to make discover Martinicans in their experience of communist militant, present how these men and women appropriated a doctrine, transformed it perhaps to suit at their needs, at their culture. It is also to consider what communist structure was put in place in Martinique; this organization was it like the metropolitan federations or was it a specific political party? Then to better understand the choices and paths, it’s necessary arrive at identifying mentors, origins of this activism and training of militants. Referents were as figures specific to Marxism and international and national socialism as figures as specific martinican politics. Then offer a reading of practices and activist strategies for assessing the quality and uniqueness of this militancy and the consequences of the commitment of these activists in different spheres. What were their political choices, why their political demands did they differ from others colonial Communists? How to explain their choice of a new society more egalitarian in a socialist state, but always associated with France? This research study positions that militancy in the center of an analysis that explores the political and social history of a population, based on other disciplines such as socio-biography and political-sciences. It examines the shaping of a people by a political significant group between 1920 and 1971, and the proposals of this group face different political and social problems in promoting an approach by the actors.

MPH / Department of Public Health / Hearing Conservation Programme (HCP) has been reported to be effective in protecting the hearing of South African workers who are exposed to occupational noise. In order to reduce Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) among these workers, a team work that includes an Occupational Audiologist in the proper implementation of hearing conservation programme is needed. The aim of this study was to assess the implementation of hearing conservation programme amongst farm workers in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province in South Africa.A quantitative research approach using cross sectional survey design was used to assess the implementation of the programme among farm workers in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province in South Africa. A self administered questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions was administered to both males and female respondents aged between 19 and 50 years. A total population of 260 farm workers were systematically selected and a sample size of 76 respondents were randomly selected and participated in the study. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Venda and the office in charge of royal macadamia. The data collected was analyzed using the Statistical package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23,0 software. A test-retest method was used to ensure reliability and findings of the study and formed the basis of recommendations. The results of the study indicate that 82,9% of the workers who were exposed to noise for more than 14hours were not using hearing protection devices even though they were supplied. The training on the effects of noise on hearing was received by a quarter (25%) of the farm workers leaving out a large portion of 75% of workers not knowledgeable about the hearing conservation programme. A very small percentage of 3,9% indicated that they had a documented hearing loss against a large number of 96,1%. The findings show that only engineering noise controls are available and there were no provision of noise maps as part of monitoring hearing conservation programme.The farm workers need to be motivated to wear hearing protection devices in order to conserve their hearing. The management of the farm may organize an in-service training regarding the proper implementation of hearing conservation programme.Dermacation of noise zones would remind workers to put on their ear protectors before entering the noise area as part of monitoring the hearing conservation programme.

MPH / Department of Public Health / See the attached abstract below

Thesis (M Social Work)--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study is an attempt to gain a deeper understanding, from the perspective and experience of male farm workers, of the effects of a transpersonal social work counselling intervention, on a wine farm in the Western Cape, in promoting more socially functional behaviour and reducing violent behaviour, particularly towards their intimate partners. Domestic violence was found by Parenzee and Smythe (2003:47) of the Institute of Criminality to be “pervasive within farming communities” and that responses are less than adequate, no preventative services were being offered and the only structured interventions that were in place, were aimed at improving the livelihoods of women. There is a growing awareness that addressing the high and increasing levels of violence against women in South Africa needs to incorporate working directly with men as recommended, after local studies, by Sonke Gender Justice Network (2009), Boonzaier (2005), Londt (2004) and Abrahams, Jewkes and Laubsher (1999). A recent study concerning the legacy of dependency and powerlessness experienced by farm workers on wine farms in the Western Cape by Falletisch (2008:v) found there to be a need for “further research into accessible, appropriate and sustainable intervention strategies on farms that empower labourers and break the cycles of habitual excessive drinking, social violence and hopelessness on farms.” Transpersonal intervention enables human beings to attain a sense of Self and the consequent accessing of their own inner power, and with that the dissipation of the compulsion to hurt, control or abuse others and themselves says Hollis (1994) and France (2008). Circumstances that are oppressive, disempowering and poverty inducing, as experienced by a large majority of farm labour in South Africa, may be inhibiting to, but should not preclude, self realisation. The researcher, a social work practitioner in private practice on a wine farm in the Western Cape, applied this approach in a counselling intervention with male farm workers, to enable them to, not only reach their own self-defined goals, but also to reduce abusive behaviour such as alcohol abuse and domestic violence. The effects of the intervention from the perspectives of the men as well as their female partners, was explored in order to determine the effectiveness of the intervention, particularly, in reducing intimate partner violence. The goal of the study was thus to gain a deeper understanding, from the perspective and experience of male farm workers, of the effects of a transpersonal social work intervention in promoting more socially functional behaviour and reducing violent behaviour, particularly towards their intimate partners. There is a dearth of services, particularly addressing male workers on farms says Shabodien (2005) and it is hoped that this study may evaluate the effectiveness and potential for further application in practice amongst farm worker communities in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie poog om, vanuit die perspektief van manlike plaaswerkers op ‘n Wes-Kaapse wynplaas, ‘n duideliker begrip te verkry van die invloed van ‘n maatskaplike beradingsintervensie, ter bevordering van groter funksionele sosiale gedrag en die vermindering van geweldadige gedrag, veral teenoor hul intieme lewensmaats. Parenzee en Smythe (2003:47) van die Instituut van Kriminaliteit het bevind dat plaasgemeenskappe deurtrek is van huishoudelike geweld en dat proaktiewe inisiatiewe onvoldoende was. Geen voorkomende dienste anders as gestruktureerde intervensies gemik op die verbetering van die bestaansreg van vroue is in plek. Daar is ‘n toenemende bewustheid om mans te betrek ten einde die tendens van groeiende geweldsvlakke teen vroue in Suid-Afrika aan te spreek, soos trouens ook bevind is deur plaaslike navorsing deur Sonke Gender Justice Network (2009), Boonzaier (2005), Londt (2004) en Abrahams, Jewkes en Laubsher (1999). ‘n Onlangse studie aangaande die nalatenskap van afhanklikheid en magteloosheid ondervind deur plaaswerkers op wynplase in die Wes-Kaap deur Falletisch (2008:v) het bevind dat daar ‘n behoefte is vir “verdere navorsing na toeganklike, toepaslike en volhoubare intervensiestrategieë op plase wat arbeiders bemagtig om die kringloop van gebruiklike oormatige drinkery, maatskaplike geweld en moedeloosheid op plase te breek”. Interpersoonlike intervensies stel die mens in staat om ‘n beeld van die eie self te verkry en die gevolglike bewuswording van hul eie innerlike krag, en met dit die afname van die drang om ander en hulself seer te maak, te oorheers en te mishandel volgens Hollis (1994) en France (2008). Omstandighede wat onderdruk, ontmagtig en armoede tot gevolg het, soos ondervind deur die groter meerderheid van plaasarbeid in Suid-Afrika, mag selfverwesenliking inhibeer, maar nie uitsluit. Die navorser, ‘n maatskaplike praktisyn in private praktyk op ‘n wynplaas in die Wes-Kaap, het hierdie benadering toegepas in ‘n beradingsintervensie met manlike plaaswerkers, om hulle in staat te stel om nie alleen hul eie doelwitte te bereik nie, maar ook onaanvaarbare gedrag soos alkoholmisbruik en huishoudelike geweld te verminder. Die effek van die intervensie, vanuit die perspektief van die mans sowel as dié van hul vroulike lewensmaats, is nagevors ten einde die effektiwiteit van die intervensie te bepaal - veral die vermindering van geweld teenoor die lewensmaats. Die doel van die studie was dus om ‘n dieper begrip te verkry, vanuit die perspektief en ondervinding van manlike plaaswerkers, van die positiewe uitwerking van ‘n interpersoonlike maatskaplike intervensie gemik op die bevordering van meer sosiaal funksionele gedrag en die vermindering van geweldadige gedrag, veral teenoor hul intieme lewensmaats. Daar is ‘n gebrek aan dienste, veral wat manlike werkers op plase aanspreek volgens Shabodien (2005), en word gehoop dat hierdie studie die effektiewiteit en potensiaal vir verdere toepassing in die praktyk onder plaasgemeenskappe in Suid-Afrika mag evalueer.