WIETA

What is WIETA?

WIETA drives a pro-active world-class and sustainable ethical trade programme for the South African wine industry and aligned sectors. WIETA is also a globally recognised ethical auditing body registered with the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP).

WIETA is a multi-stakeholder, representing both the interests of trade unions, civil society groupings, wine brands and their producers. This places WIETA in a unique position to actively promote fair working conditions within the wine industry and to provide a platform for dialogue around ethical trade.

The organisation’s Ethical Code of conduct serves as a rigorous framework through which its members and their supply chain are monitored. Social audits serve as a primary monitoring tool to measure not only legal compliance with South Africa’s labour and occupational health and safety legislation but also goes beyond compliance requirements to ensure that the company’s management systems reflect sustainable ethical principles, policies and practices.

Further, that farm worker housing not only meets prescribed safety, health and sanitation standards but also promotes the right to dignity, family life and broader community development

Objectives of WIETA

  • formulate, adopt, periodically review, modify and improve an ethical code of good conduct governing labour and social standards for those involved in the wine and agricultural value chain
  • promote the adoption of and adherence to the ethical code of good conduct amongst producers and growers engaged in the wine and agricultural value chain.
  • implement relevant independent monitoring mechanisms to ensure that members of the Association within the wine and agricultural value chain observe and implement the ethical code of good conduct.
  • determine ways of encouraging implementation of and compliance with the code, including (but not limited to) identifying support mechanisms for members to attain best practice and identifying recommendations on steps to be taken towards sustained ethical practices.
  • determine measures to be taken in the case of non adherence to and violations of the ethical code of conduct.
  • secure and maintain recognition and endorsement of this ethical code of good conduct and the monitoring and accreditation process amongst retailers and consumers within South Africa and internationally and to
  • co-operate with organisations having similar aims and objectives, both nationally and internationally.

BSI is WIETA approved

BSI is WIETA approved to conduct audits from 1 September 2019. Our auditors have many years of experience in the Global Agricultural Industry and understand the diverse needs of farmers and growers from wineries, fruit and vegetable farms to pack houses and distribution of agricultural products.

From September we will be able to do SIZA, WIETA and SMETA combination audits. It is encouraged as it reduces audit costs and audit fatigue which results in a more positive auditee interaction.