JBS creates company after case of child labor in the US – 05/04/2023 – Market

JBS USA, the main business division of the Brazilian slaughterhouse, announced on Wednesday (3) the creation of its own food safety and hygiene company, after one of its outsourced providers was accused of hiring children and adolescents to clean JBS factories. in the United States.

The new company, called JBS Sanitation, will start operations immediately, providing internal services to ten units of the slaughterhouse and Pilgrim’s, a chicken producer that belongs to the group.

JBS says it will still continue to use outsourced cleaning services at its US factories, as long as current providers meet audit and working conditions standards.

In February, a report by The New York Times showed that the American Packers Sanitation Services, then responsible for cleaning JBS units in the country, had been fined US$ 1.5 million (about R$ 7.5 million) due to the use of child labor.

The vehicle accompanied more than one hundred immigrant children in 20 American states. In most cases, they immigrated alone to work in the US and send money to their family back home, mainly in Latin American countries.

In addition to JBS, giants such as Pepsico, General Mills, Ford, General Motors would also be involved with Packers Sanitation.

After the revelation of the case, the government of President Joe Biden even sent a letter to the main slaughterhouses operating in the United States demanding more action against child labor.

At the end of April, days after the letter was published, JBS USA announced that it had terminated its contract with Packers Sanitation, saying it did not tolerate child labor.

In a statement, the newly appointed CEO of JBS USA, Wesley Batista Filho, said that, in light of the worrying allegations that occurred in the sector, the slaughterhouse made the decision to create a company capable of providing the highest levels of food safety and guarantee Of Quality.

The JBS Sanitation announcement also involves a partnership with the UFCW (international union of commercial and food workers) so that the company’s employees receive competitive wages and benefits.

According to JBS, all JBS Sanitation workers and their children will also be eligible to receive free university education.

“The revelations about child labor among meatpacking subcontractors are simply unacceptable, and it has been heartening to see JBS USA’s willingness to act proactively to address this situation,” UFCW President Marc Perrone said in a statement.