Brazil: Agreement on working conditions of sugar cane cutters

The principal objective of the agreement is the elimination of an intermediary agent, known as “cat”, in the contracting of the workers. According to the agreement, the contract will be signed directly by the companies or by the agencies of the National Employment System (SINE). The workers will receive a signed work permit and will be guaranteed their right to social security.

Additionally, the workers will have the right to two breaks a day, to the use of safety equipment, to transportation to work, and to the distribution of a thermal package.

Although the document is considered a success, an agreement was not made on supplying food within the thermal packages, or about an equal salary for all the workers.

The document was signed by more than 300 companies, the workers, and the federal government. However, the joining of the companies is voluntary and there will be no tax incentive.

FIAN, an organization that fights for the right to food at international level, welcomes this new document. Along with other NGOs, FIAN carried out a fact-finding to Brazil in April 2008. Among other tasks, the mission visited the sugar cane fields and interviewed the workers. The mission revealed that some workers have begun suffering illnesses and even some have died due to the severe working conditions. Based on the fact-finding mission, a report was published about the impact of agrofuel production in Brazil, in which also the working conditions of the sugar cane cutters are emphasized. Furthermore, the violation of the workers’ human rights, as well as the failed policies of the government to improve these conditions were severely criticized.

FIAN considers it very important to monitor the implementation of the announced agreement, especially regarding the impact that it generates for the working conditions of the workers on sugar cane plantations.