U. S. allocated $5 million to combat harsh labor discipline in Brazil and Paraguay
2023.03.28 20:13
U. S. allocated $5 million to combat harsh labor discipline in Brazil and Paraguay
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – According to a statement, the U.S. Department of Labor granted a $5 million grant on Tuesday in accordance with a cooperative agreement with a UN agency to support initiatives to combat abusive labor practices on cattle ranches in Brazil and Paraguay.
Workers in the cattle ranching regions of Brazil’s Mato Grosso do Sul state and the Boquerón region of the Paraguayan Chaco, where labor rights violations targeting vulnerable populations have been reported, will be the focus of the project, which is being led by the International Labor Organization, a U.N. agency.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, “workers on small- and medium-sized cattle farms that supply larger international cattle production operations frequently fall victim.”
“The threat and levels of forced labor and labor exploitation have also grown as cattle production in the two countries has expanded to meet global demand.”
JBS SA (OTC:), one of the largest beef companies in the world, is based in South America. Marfrig and Minerva After China, the United States of America is the most popular destination for Brazilian beef exports.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture made a proposal on Friday to allow fresh beef imports from Paraguay.
Requests for information regarding the grant were not returned by Brazil’s Labor Ministry.
According to Mato Grosso do Sul-based Brazilian labor prosecutors, violations of labor rights are common in farm towns near the Paraguayan border.
As per Work Service information refered to by the examiners, 116 specialists, including 41 Paraguayans, where protected from “slave-like circumstances” last year in Mato Grosso do Sul, the most elevated cost starting around 2016.
The data demonstrated that among their other labors, they applied herbicides to sugar cane plantations and cattle ranches.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) is a UN agency that advocates for policies that promote fair work conditions worldwide and establishes labor standards.
