March 23, 2021

JBS ordered to pay US$3.6 million following COVID-19 outbreak at its beef plant

A Brazilian court has ordered major meatpacker JBS SA to pay BRL 20 million (~US$3.62 milllion; BRL 1 = US$0.18) in damages following a COVID-19 outbreak at its beef plant in São Miguel do Guaporé, northern Brazil, Reuters reported.

The ruling is the first victory for the plaintiffs since labour prosecutors began suing JBS over poor health protocols, said labour prosecutor Priscila Schvarcz.

JBS is the biggest employer at São Miguel do Guaporé town. The beef plant at São Miguel do Guaporé was ordered to be closed in May last year.

In 2020, JBS faced 18 lawsuits at specialised labour courts as prosecutors looked to force the company to introduce stricter worker protections.

In addition to the fine, the ruling forces JBS to test workers for COVID-19 symptoms and implement a 1.8m distance between workers on the production floor.

23 JBS plants in seven states in Brazil were hit by COVID-19 outbreaks.

- Reuters