one of them. I don’t put up the wages.... My permanent workers—tractor drivers and foremen—get more than the minimum. The others are getting the old minimum wage of last year. I explained to the workers and they can see. I have less crop. My financial situation is forcing me to do this.”135 The TAU regional committee chair also said that he, like many farmers in the Levubu area, used contractors but did not verify, as he is legally required to, that the contractors comply with labor laws, including minimum wage determinations: “Why must I police the contractor. The Department of Labor must. In practice, farmers aren’t checking on contractors. You sign a contract that he’ll meet all labor laws but he doesn’t.... I have 30 contractors.”136 The black farmers’ union allegedly made an unsuccessful attempt to get the government to approve a lower minimum wage for its members.137 Many white farmers claim the most serious labor abuses are occurring on black commercial farms between Tshipise and Mutale.138 Human Rights Watch visited a farmer at Nwanedi, located in this area. The plot holder said he paid his nine Zimbabwean workers R500 (US$71) per month, though he knew the minimum was around R800 (US$113) per month. Just before we went to speak to the workers, he said he started Zimbabweans at R350 (US$50) per month. Like some white farmers, he said he could not afford to pay the minimum.139 In fact, his workers told us that only one of them earned R350 per month for a five-and-ahalf day work week. The other workers all earned less than R350 per month.140 A black smallholder farming tomatoes, chilies, maize and potatoes in the vicinity of Tshipise said he paid his two South African farm workers R350 each per month.141 Human Rights Watch was similarly informed that not all farmers in Weipe district were complying with the minimum wage.142 A farm owner in Weipe said he welcomed the minimum wage, but lamented the government’s failure to enforce it through labor inspections: “Those of us who are compliant can’t compete with others. We’re competing in the same markets. We hear rumors or stories that some of the officials are being bribed. Not only in our areas. I know from the workers.”143 Another Weipe farm 135 Human Rights Watch interview with a white commercial farmer, Levubu, April 29, 2006. Ibid. Ibid 138 Ibid. 139 Human Rights Watch interview with a black small-scale commercial farmer, Nwanedi, April 30, 2006. 140 Human Rights Watch interview with nine undocumented Zimbabwean farm workers, Nwanedi, April 30, 2006. 141 Human Rights Watch interview with a black farmer, on Tshipise road, April 30, 2006. 142 Human Rights Watch interview with a white commercial farmer who is a TAU official for the Soutpansberg region, April 29, 2006; Human Rights Watch interview with leader of Echo 4 military unit, Limpopo border, April 27, 2006. 143 Human Rights Watch interview with a white commercial farmer, Weipe, April 27, 2006. 136 137 39 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH VOLUME 18. NO. 6(A)