Wieta initiative

WIETA’s remit concentrates on important industry issues

Around £80,000 of the total budget for generic South African promotion in 2004 in the UK will be attributed to the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), it was announced last month.

WIETA was set up last year in a bid to improve the working conditions for South Africa’s vineyard labour force.

Nicky Taylor, WIETA’s first CEO, has played an essential role in the formation of the organisation whose stakeholders include wine growers and producers, the South African national government and NGO’s. 

WIETA’s remit concentrates on important industry issues including child labour, alcohol dependency, improving the working environment, housing issues, discrimination and minimum wage levels.

Taylor is enthusiastic about the initiative: "Our aim is to create a standard that producers do not find difficult to aspire or adhere to.

We want to create a useful manual that will support producers in their efforts to gain accreditation so that we may improve industry standards across the board." She concludes, "We do not want this to be perceived as a chore but as a benefit for all those involved.

Its success rests in the hands of all those taking part and can only reflect positively on producers in the long run."  

To ensure this success, around half of the funds will be attributed to the set up and training of an independent auditing team which will monitor compliance with WIETA’s code of practice.