Gov’t agents find over 200 field workers facing precarious conditions

Agents from Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and Employment found over 200 workers struggling under precarious conditions on sugarcane plantations in the region of Ribeirão Preto and Franca, in São Paulo state. The inspections took place between March 6 and 10 on properties that supply part of the local demand of sugar and ethanol plants.

According to inspection coordinator and labor auditor Fernando da Silva, the employees were not registered, had no access to personal protective equipment and tools, and were deprived of any sanitary facilities, shelter, or a place to eat.

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Inadequate transportation of employees was another problem found in several plantations, as heavy trucks were used to move around with workers carried on top of the sugarcane load. Due to the serious security risks, the agents shut down sugar cane fields in Ituverava, São Joaquim da Barra, Morro Agudo, and Jeriquara. “Unfortunately, in the last few years, we started finding precarious situations, as if we were pulled back over 20 years in time for this sector,” the labor inspector remarked.

The coordinator explained that the ministry held awareness-raising events last year underscoring the need for local farmers to hire workforce with signed labor contracts and to provide guidance on safety and health at work.