As if under a pair of magnifying glasses, the COVID19 crisis makes it clear what work is essential for our societies. Not only must everything be done to maintain and expand medical care, the stable supply of food is also crucial. Therefore, farmworkers are part of the essential workforce across the world. We need them to keep working in times of crisis so that we can have food on our table, yet they are one of the most underpaid and undervalued members of society. In many cases farmworkers live and work under near feudal conditions.

This paper will unpack the challenges of being a farmworker in the COVID19 era.

The paper is available in English language only! It was first published by the Food Sovereignty Dialogue Programme of Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Johannesburg office.