WIETA Auditing
The auditing team
WIETA has
appointed a team of 16 social auditors, who are contracted to work
for the organisation on a part time, independent contractual basis.
These persons have been appointed in consultation with the various
stakeholders represented on the executive. The social auditors are
familiar with the sector, have an excellent understanding of
employment legislation and its practical implementation.
The pre audit phase
The lead up to the audit is carefully planned and gives
sufficient time to the team to seek information from producers, for
the producer to prepare information, and for the inspection team to
then digest and use this in planning the actual inspection.
Carrying out the audit
On the day of the inspection, the team will hold a briefing
meeting with management and workers, or worker representatives.
These could be either union representatives, or where none is
active, worker-elected representatives, including at least one man
and one woman who should be asked to ensure that their colleagues
understand the process. This briefing meeting allows an explanation
of the procedures and ensures that, where management did not
pre-inform workers of the inspection, they have some understanding
of the purpose and process.
Verification of information on conditions at work
All information obtained from management on terms and conditions
of employment is verified through:
| • |
A series of private interviews with a
representative sample of employees (men and women of different
job grades and languages, and permanent and temporary
employees), |
| • |
A review of the documentation kept by
management, and |
| • |
An inspection of the workplace and housing
allocated to workers. |
Reporting
back on the findings
After the interviews and the workplace and records have been
reviewed, the team will meet separately to agree upon the day’s
findings. Thereafter, the team will hold a closing meeting with the
farm or producer participants who were present at the opening
meeting.
WIETA accreditation
The WIETA audit committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss the
accreditation of members. This team comprises one trade union, one
producer, one Department of Labour and one NGO rep on the WIETA exco.
The group look at blind copies (i.e. without company names) of the
audit reports, improvement plan and verification details, and makes
a final decision about the accreditation of the member concerned
based on the documentation submitted to it. A member will be
accredited where the audit report reveals that it complies in full
with the code, or where an improvement plan, signed off by both
parties, stipulates the steps that have been taken subsequent to the
audit to rectify any non compliance. If the WIETA accreditation
committee feels that non-compliances are not yet fully addressed, or
that verification is incomplete, it will request further discussion
with the member concerned to reach agreement on accreditation.
Previous Auditing Reports
| • |
Read about WIETA's first year of social
auditing - click
HERE |
| • |
Download
the results of the first year of audits - click
HERE |
Download preparing for the WIETA audit –
principal employers
Download preparing for the WIETA audit - labour
brokers /
temporary employment services
Benchmarking Ethical Labour Standards In The
South African
Wine Industry: The WIETA auditing
experience 2004-2005
(10.5MB pdf file)
|
