Social impact assessment of sugar production operations in South Africa: A social life cycle assessment perspective

Abstract

The objectives of the study were guided by the guidelines on social life cycle assessment of products of the South African Sugar Industry developed by the United Nations Environmental Programme and SETAC initiatives. The study's main focus is on health and safety, freedom of association, employee's wages, and Gender equality in the workplace, working conditions, crime and the social wellbeing of the communities that surround the sugar industry's operations. Field research, historic comparative research, interviews and questionnaires were used for the collection of relevant data. Although it is good that the sugar industry decreases the level of employment in some areas, the decrease in sugar production during the season of 2010-2011 could have major financial and social challenges for these areas, and could also impact the rest of South Africa.