Abras demands the adoption of measures by the wineries involved in the case

“Immediately upon becoming aware of the matter, Abras asked the Salton, Aurora and Garibaldi wineries for clarification and what measures and measures they had adopted with their suppliers to comply with current labor legislation and combat the violation of the human and labor rights of these employees”, said the entity. .

The Association highlighted that the wineries are committed to complying with current labor legislation and prohibiting any type of violation of legal provisions, “in addition to promoting congruent governance practices and analysis and training actions in the viticulture production chain, carrying out due diligence for homologation and external audits on labor practices, expand the dissemination of reporting channels and adopt complementary measures”.

Abras asked the wineries for a quick schedule for the implementation of such actions, with start dates for each initiative, which will be monitored by the Association while awaiting future recommendations and requirements from public and private entities and bodies to the aforementioned companies. “Abras values ​​compliance with legislation and good practices in labor relations at all stages of the supply chain,” said the entity in a statement.

Wineries adopt measures to combat slave labor in the grape harvest

Aurora, Cooperativa Garibaldi and Salton wineries suspended contracts with the company responsible for hiring workers in a situation analogous to slavery and have been adopting measures to ensure that the case does not happen again. In recent days, companies released letters to the community apologizing for the fact and presenting the actions implemented.

This Monday morning (6), Cooperativa Garibaldi updated its statement. “Since receiving complaints that revealed work situations in conditions similar to slavery, involving temporary service providers for unloading grapes, Cooperativa Garibaldi has shown solidarity with the victims, especially the 15 workers who worked at the winery. We also assume a collaborative position with the authorities to clarify the facts and, above all, we have developed effective ways to evolve our institutional practices”, says the text.

Among the actions taken, Garibaldi is going to improve the policy for contracting outsourced services, include a contractual clause in respect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, implement audits in providers and expand the channels for receiving complaints.

Salton is reviewing all supplier selection and contracting processes, implementing more rigorous criteria, carrying out internal and external audits to assess labor and social responsibility practices. Another measure adopted by Salton was the adherence to the National Pact for the Eradication of Work.

“To better clarify the context of events, we clarify that the grape harvest period is dynamic, sometimes requiring urgent hiring for a short period. This year, in February, we had to hire 14 professionals to unload grape trucks. In full collaboration with the Public Ministry of Labor, we made deposits to pay the supplier, aiming to guarantee the severance pay and return workers to their homes”, says the open letter to society released by Salton.

Aurora apologized to the rescued workers and to all the Brazilian people. “The recent events involving our relationship with the Fênix company deeply embarrass us. They embarrass and infuriate. We learned from those who came before us that without work we would be nothing. Work is sacred. To betray this principle would be to betray our history and ourselves. However, even if involuntarily, we feel as if this is what we did”, says the company.

Aurora informed that it will no longer hire outsourced labor during the grape harvest period and has undertaken to improve internal inspection processes with suppliers, reviewing contracts and equalizing measures aimed at inhibiting and combating practices that do not comply with the legislation. labor and human rights.