NEWSLETTER 2023 Q3

Exporting into the EU?

Exporting into the EU may just have become a little more stringent, with the new EU corporate due diligence requirements compelling many bigger companies to report on and remedy any human rights abuses and environmental degradation as a result of their supply chain operations and impacts. The draft new law, passed by the European Union in June 2023, requires that both the EU and foreign businesses with operations in the EU to report on and ensure human rights due diligence in their supply chains by demonstrating that they have identified and mapped out all potential salient risks. In addition, they are also to understand possible impacts associated with human rights violations and have addressed these through remedial measures.

The WIETA standard goes a long way to guide and equip wine producers through the human right’s due diligence process. Over the last two months, our roadshows have presented a cursory introduction to how the WIETA standard V4 (2021) deals with human rights due diligence.

If you are interested in taking your suppliers through WIETA’s human rights due diligence basic and advanced training, please contact

Chirstone Hornsby,
Programme Manager for Standards and Stakeholder Engagement
Chirstone@wieta.org.za

Booking of audits ahead of time

With the sector heading into peak stone fruit, table grape and potentially another early wine harvest season, the availability of our core trained,

and internationally accredited auditors will become more and more under pressure.

WIETA strongly advises our members to make sure that you book your next audit date well in advance, to avoid potential risk in adherence to auditing cycles. To make sure that an audit date is available, it is suggested that the self-assessment questionnaire and the audit request be done 2-3 months before the next full audit date, as indicated on the WIETA certificate.

Struggling to get an audit date within your audit cycle?

Apply for an audit waiver.

WIETA members are required by the audit process methodology, to have their audit dates taking place on, or before, the next full audit date as indicated on the WIETA certificate. If this audit date is missed, WIETA extends a 30-day grace period to the organisation. If for whatever reason this extended date can also not be adhered to, the organisation will be outside of their audit cycle and attract a major non-compliance finding under management systems, which the auditors will indicate on the audit report.

However, if you have a legitimate reason for failing to comply to your audit cycle, you can fill in a waiver application form in order to avoid the major finding if the reason for the missed audit cycle falls within the scope of the following 3 reasons:

Where an audit can only take place at a date later than the audit due date when the business is in full operation as per buyer requirements and the audit cycle is required to be revised. In this instance WIETA would advise that the audit cycle be brought forward, rather than delayed, ensuring certification is not impacted during the proceeding harvest period.
Where a combined WIETA-SIZA audit is scheduled for both fruit and wine, and the audit can only take place at a later date when the business is in full operation and the audit cycle is to be revised. In this instance WIETA would advise that the audit cycle be brought forward, rather than delayed,ensuring certification is not impacted during the proceeding harvest period.
Where an auditee has applied at least 30 days prior to the audit due date on the WIETA online system for an audit (completed date of audit request), but an audit could not be scheduled due to non-availability on an auditor(s) of the certification body. This will be confirmed with the certification body. Please note that failure on the part of the auditee to complete the necessary requirements of the certification body to schedule the audit (e.g. accepting the quote) will result in the application not being approved.

Any reason outside of the above scope will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In order for the waiver application to be considered in the first place, the organisation will have to have filled in the SAQ and audit request on the ethical trade online platform, as well as produce a booked audit date before sending the form for evaluation. This will need to be done at least 30 days prior to the said booked audit date.

Please contact Louhan Nel
Advisor: Audit Assurance
Email: louhan@wieta.org.za for more details and a waiver application form.

Importing into the UK and require an audit upload onto SEDEX?

For any producers or cellars who would like to upload their WIETA audit reports onto the SEDEX platform, for international market requirements, please note that the following 3 firms have access to do so: Control Union, Partner Africa and BSI Group. To make use of this service, organisations will need to request the uploading of their audit report when filling in the self-assessment questionnaire under section B, point 1.3 SEDEX Requirements – For UK markets as per their request only.

Auditors’ training highlights

WIETA hosted the annual auditors’ training on 23 to 25 August 2023. This 3-day training programme was jam-packed with relevant information around conducting audits according to the WIETA Standard. Topics that were covered: WIETA ethical online platform, top 5 findings and narratives, consultant vs. auditors and so much more. The highlight of the training programme was not necessarily the information provided, but actually the discussion and feedback from our auditors. Various grey areas were discussed in the hope of providing clarity on the way forward. All-in-all, it was a very exciting and successful event.

Some feedback from auditors:

“Thank you for providing a platform for discussion. We are often just told what to do, but you have given us a voice today.”

“The training was very thorough, and we appreciate all the effort that WIETA put in, to help us on this auditing journey.”

Exporting bulk wine into Europe, the UK, the US and Canada?

WIETA now undertakes social traceability for your bulk wine.

The WIETA Fair Labour Practice Seal provides ethical product assurance to ensure that wine within a specific vintage year has been fully socially traced. This also guarantees that all the suppliers, the production cellar and bottling facilities have undertaken a WIETA 3rd-party audit by a recognised independent ISO-compliant certification and audit body, with auditors registered with the Association for Professional Social Compliance Auditors (APSCA).

Social traceability is supported by an extensive verification process, undertaken by the South African Wine Industry Information and System (SAWIS), involving an independent inspection, registration and approval as an authentic Wine of Origin.

Supply chain traceability includes all wine producers, grape growers, cellars, traders and bottling facilities.

The benefits of social traceability:

Total visibility of human rights due diligence throughout your wine supply chain.
More transparency, allowing the supplier to share information on compliance status at the request of buyers.
Commitment to improvement. Suppliers must demonstrate a commitment to improve the conditions of work, sustain fair treatment of workers and demonstrate their human rights due diligence.
Managing and mitigating salient risks in your supply chain.

Who can apply for the WIETA Fair Labour Practice Seal?

Should your importer or overseas-based buyer/distributor require product traceability, e.g. a form of verification such as a traceability certificate, or the WIETA Fair Labour Practice Seal on their packaging, as the South African-based producer, you can undertake the traceability exercise on their behalf.

Please contact Louhan Nel
Advisor: Audit Assurance
louhan@wieta.org.za

FEEDBACK ON OUR TRANSITIONING THROUGH ETHICAL TRADE SYMPOSIUM HELD ON 15 SEPTEMBER 2023

What an amazing event, reflecting on 20 years of growing communities through social development, driving corporate social responsibility, embracing transformation, promoting environmental stewardship and advocating for human rights within the wine industry. We would like to extend our gratitude to all the members who attended the symposium on Friday 15 September at Klein Joostenberg, and to the speakers who shared their passionate and emotional journeys. You are WIETA and we thank you for making the day such a huge success. As producers, workers and important stakeholders in this journey to transition towards a more just and transformed ethical industry, your contributions do not go unnoticed.

On the building dignity and resilience in farming communities panel, Elisabeth Julies shared Bosman Adama’s journey to social development. She reflected on their holistic education programmes for their farming community: “One student has become a qualified accountant. He rose out of his environment”.

Jeehano Pieterse is a beneficiary of the Procare Choices Programme and is now working for DGB in their bottling division. His advice to other farms is to “bring the Choices Programme into your communities. I would not be here if it was not for the programme.” Gerhard le Roux from Procare said “the programme provides people with reformation.” Many members in the audience could attest to that.

On the human rights due diligence in wine supply chains panel, Eric Leong Son, the Sustainability Manager at Heineken Beverages reminded us that “human rights due diligence requires reputation beyond compliance. Be ahead and be a pioneer” He cautioned that “whether you like it or not, you will get one (a reputation). It is in your interest to manage it correctly.” He went on to suggest that having “a portfolio of evidence will serve you well.” His five suggestions for success: “Have a game plan. Collaborate and have partners. Start the journey. Remember your portfolio of evidence.”

Tania Moodley from Tesco also shared her company’s approach to human rights due diligence. She noted that “the reliance on audits alone is no longer sufficient. Legislation and litigation shape the responses required to demonstrate a company’s commitment to human rights.” She further added that Tesco’s human rights strategy is based on four priority areas, namely modern slavery, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods and worker representation.

Transformation and wine beneficiation and the support for diversity and inclusion are central strategic themes within the South African wine Industry. Beverley Farmer reflected on her journey as a woman in wine. She said ”initially the conversation was negative. What do we do with this thing called transformation? However, the tone has changed.”

At the sustainability panel discussion, Heidi Newton King from Spier and Fanie Malan from Allesverloren gave us hope that change is possible, that sustainability is not outside of our reach and that it need not be an expensive transition towards ensuring that producers make bold and brave choices to ensure that people, planet and profit co-exist and thrive towards more sustainable futures for wine farming.

Making that commitment more practical, Siglinda Bosch and Jack Chennels spoke passionately about Vinimark’s collaboration with Legal Fundi and WIETA on access to social justice and legal advice for farmworkers.

A big thank you to the following sponsors for the wine gift bottles for the panellists.

Journey’s End | Bosman Adama Wines | Koopmanskloof Wines

Thanks to everyone for joining us and making the event a huge success!

WIETA TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND FEEDBACK

Training funded by Winetech

The transformative training initiative funded by the South African Wine Industry Network for Expertise and Technology (Winetech, now under the auspices of SA Wine), has brought invaluable insights and skills to our WIETA members, equipping them for success in their roles within the wine industry.

Communication and supervisory training

These training sessions took place on 25 July at Picardie Guest Farm in Paarl and 5 September at Protea Hotel, Worcester.

Topics covered:

- - - - Supervisory and communication training with Dragonfly Institute.
        
        Developing strategies for motivation and engagement
        
        Providing constructive feedback and problem-solving.

Feedback from those in attendance from the 25 July session:

“This is a definitive training for new team leaders”, “Built a lot of new skills that I could implement in my new group at work” and “Very useful, I encourage others to attend!”

Feedback from those attending the 5 September session:

“Baie dankie aan Janine vir die opleiding, ek het baie geleer en ek kan my span nou beter motiveer!”, “Mooi Geleer! Ek sal my mense beleer!” and “Thank you for the training, it was a mind opener, I have learnt a lot that can be applied at the workplace!”

Grievance Management Training

These sessions, facilitated by WIETA in partnership with the National Employers Association of South Africa (NEASA), equipped our members with invaluable knowledge and skills in grievance management.

The training sessions were presented on 29 August at Eikenhof Estate in Stellenbosch and 28 September at Church Street Lodge in Worcester.

Topics covered:

Introduction to grievance procedures and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms
Understanding the concept of grievance procedures and ADR mechanisms
Implementing grievance procedures in the workplace
Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes
Designing a comprehensive ADR programme
Monitoring and measuring progress.

Feedback from those in attendance:

“Venue is baie mooi en professioneel!”, “Great training – thank you” and “Thank you for a very informative training today!”

“This comprehensive training series equips our members with the knowledge and tools to manage grievances and disputes effectively, fostering a positive work environment that aligns with WIETA’s commitment to ethical trade practices and sustainability.”

“We express our sincere gratitude to the Winetech team for their support in making this initiative possible!”

Recap of WIETA Roadshows 2023

The WIETA team holds member roadshows once a year. This year we travelled to the Breede Valley, Wellington area and of course, hosted at our home base in Stellenbosch.

Our roadshows were held on 22 August at Aan de Doorns Cellar, 7 September at the WIETA Offices and 20 September at Nelson Family Vineyards. These roadshows served as vital platforms for addressing pressing industry topics and fostering collaboration among our esteemed members.

If you are interested in hosting a group of producers for an engagement or indeed, WIETA training with the team.

Please contact Chirstone Hornsby
Programme Manager: Standards & Stakeholder Engagement
Email: chirstone@wieta.org.za

WIETA Roadshow at Aan de Doorns Cellar, Breede Valley on 22 August 2023:

WIETA Roadshow at Datavoice House, Techno Park, Stellenbosch on 7 September 2023:

Regional audit findings and trends for 2022

An integral part of our roadshow agenda was the exploration of regional audit findings and trends for the year 2022. By examining these trends and common audit findings, we offered practical guidance to enhance compliance and promote best practices. This valuable information underscores our collective commitment to continuous improvement within the ethical trade landscape.

Feedback from those in attendance:

“Fantasties!” and “Baie dankie – Waardeer!”

We extend our gratitude to all attendees, who made the recent roadshows a success. Your commitment to ethical trade practices is a driving force for positive change in the wine industry.

Labour rights and decent work training for farm workers

In the spirit of our commitment to ethical trade practices and social responsibility, WIETA has been conducting labour and decent work training for farm workers in the South African wine industry for the year 2023/2024. Our aim is to empower farm workers with the knowledge and tools to understand and assert their labour rights while promoting the concept of decent work in the agricultural sector in South Africa.

Topics covered:

Introduction to farmworker labour rights and responsibilities
Decent work in the agricultural sector
Unfair labour practices and exploitation
Collective bargaining and trade unions
Engaging with employers for better working conditions.

Feedback from those in attendance for some our labour trainings this past quarter:

“Die opleiding was baie nice, ek het baie geleer – baie dankie aan julle tyd vir ons!”, “DIt is ‘n goeie opleiding vir allerhande dinge wat ek nie geken het nie en baie dankie vir die geleentheid aan WIETA” and “Dit was verstaanbaar, ek het baie geleer daaruit!”

“Ek het baie geleer”, “Ek het uit die opleiding baie geleer, ons makeer baie opleding”, “Enjoyed – dit was goeie opleiding,”“Ek soek verdere opleiding” and ”Ek het baie kennis ondervind”.

Please contact Chirstone Hornsby
Chirstone@wieta.org.za for more information.

Interested in WIETA standards training?

Just a friendly reminder that we have developed online videos that support our producer compliance training. The

training will now be available on the Learn with WIETA Platform, allowing you to work through the various WIETA code and standards principles in your own time and at your own pace. English and Afrikaans options can be registered for separately.

The 13 WIETA training modules will be available on the Learn with WIETA platform at a cost of R350 (excluding VAT) per language option selected and per user registered (WIETA paid-up members only).
Please use the link below to register:

https://learn.wieta.org.za/

Human trafficking and forced labour in the spotlight

The first week of October was Human Trafficking Awareness Week in South Africa. Show your commitment to addressing forced labour risks in supply chains by registering for one of Stronger Together’s expert workshops below.

Detecting, Deterring and Dealing with Forced Labour

Are you needing to meet the latest market requirements on addressing forced labour? This expert introductory training equips businesses to understand the latest human rights requirements through best practice guidance. This workshop is ideal for managers, compliance officers, administrators and HR job roles.

Available dates:

24 October 2023, online training
5 December 2023, online training

Taking Your Next Steps: A follow-up workshop for agri-businesses

This advanced workshop is ideal for businesses who attended introductory training in this area, have already implemented a policy on forced labour and need further guidance on how to embed best practice throughout the company, or need a refresher. Hear from other businesses on what has worked, share common challenges and how to overcome them.

Available date:

8 November 2023, online training

Please contact Evan Cupido at evan@stronger2gether.org for more details.

We wish you the best and hope that you will participate in the next round of training with us!

The WIETA Team