March 31, 2023

US awards US$5 million grant to address labour abuses in Brazil, Paraguay cattle sector

The US Department of Labour has awarded a US$5 million grant to fund initiatives addressing labour abuses in the Brazil and Paraguay cattle sector, under a cooperative agreement with UN agency the International Labour Organisation, Investing.com reported.

The project will advocate for workers in cattle ranching areas of Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state and the Paraguayan Chaco's Boqueron region, where labour rights violations targeting vulnerable populations have been reported.

The US Department of Labour said workers on small and medium-sized cattle farms that supply larger international cattle production operations are affected, adding that the threat and level of forced labour and labour exploitation has increased as cattle production in both countries expanded to meet global demand.

JBS, Minerva, and Marfrig are among the world's largest beef companies based in South America. After China, the US is the second-largest destination for Brazilian beef exports.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed allowing fresh beef imports from Paraguay.

-      Investing.com