Farm workers's cottages_Best example

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=30 BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=76 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Tulbagh Info Information</B></div> <div> Farm workers's cottages_Best example</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=28 style=" border-top: 1px solid #0066CC; border-left: 1px solid #0066CC;border-right: 1px solid #0066CC; border-bottom: 1px solid #0066CC;" BGCOLOR="#0066CC" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=404 width="100%" style=" border-left: 1px solid #3366CC;" BGCOLOR="#000066" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="120" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#0099CC HEIGHT= 15 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="local_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tulbagh News Page 1"><U>Back to Local News</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>One example of a farmer in the Tulbagh Valley who more than cares for his workers and which should be an example to all!</B></div> <div> After writing an article about farm workers, evictions etc. and how SOME farmers treat their workers in the local eNews to attempt to draw attention to the plight of farm workers in some instances (which elicited a very good response), John Veschini, was invited by one farmer to visit the farmer's farm to see at first hand what the farmer had done for and how the farmer treats the workers and what has been done for the workers, in terms of housing and other benefits. Clearly this farmer, with the farmer's substantial investment in the farm, the infrastructure and housing for the farmer's workers, has actually invested in this community in no uncertain way and more especially, the farmer has created a 'family' on the farm. Surely the farmer will get the benefits in terms of productivity? This must be the way to go for all farmers and farm workers to achieve a fair Employer/Employee relationship?</div> <bR> <div> A photo of how the cottages looked before upgrade follows;</div> <div> <IMG SRC="b8740f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Before the upgrade" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="3" VSPACE="0">When the farmer took over the farm, the workers's cottages were in a sorry state, with no electricity,  water and waterborne sewerage. As can be seen from the photo of the cottage alongside, the picture was bleak and the cottage was virtually nothing but a shell and could hardly be termed accommodation. Well, this has all changed. The cottages have all been upgraded and enormous expense to now be real and acceptable accommodation for the workers. </div> <div> Amongst other things, the cottages have a high level of finish, including ceilings, well plastered and painted walls (exterior in white with a dark colour to window cill height to prevent the walls from being dirtied  and on the inside the walls are painted in attractive colours), ceramic tiles on the floors, waterborne sewerage piped hot and cold water to the taps, fitted kitchen, proper wall tiling where appropriate, proper sanitary ware, curtain tracks etc. Moreover, the houses have large covered veranda's and are most comfortable family homes indeed. They are of course set in a picturesque part of the farm and there is plenty of space for children to play and a fair degree of space between the houses to give maximum privacy. There are even street lights in the form of attractive lamp posts! </div> <div>  If that is not enough, the farmer intends erecting wooden slatted fencing or walls after the current harvest, to give the occupants more privacy. He is also going to build a communal laundry facility.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="b8840f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="Cottages with veranda's and street lighting" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="b8940f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="A real Agri village atmosphere" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="b8a40f00.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="240" ALT="The verandah" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="b8c789c0.jpg" border=0 width="376" height="156" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="b8de7ca0.jpg" border=0 width="231" height="202" ALT="The fitted kitchen" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="b95c1f70.jpg" border=0 width="193" height="247" ALT="The lounge" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="b94aaf70.jpg" border=0 width="170" height="247" ALT="Hand basin and shaving cabinet" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="b90aff70.jpg" border=0 width="175" height="247" ALT="One of the bedrooms" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> <IMG SRC="b93acf80.jpg" border=0 width="172" height="248" ALT="Another of the bedrooms" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> This farmer even goes the extra mile when it comes to maintaining a happy and contented workforce on this farm. The farmer pays for the school fees and uniforms of the children, offers bursaries and pays Creche fees also. The farmer even assists the workers to finance the purchase of their appliances so as to save them the exorbitant finace charges that the furniture stores levy. Clearly this bodes well for a sense of well-being and contentment for the workers and their families!</div> <div> <B>This farmer is to be commended for his efforts!</B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>