May 12, 2020

JBS donates US$120 million to initiatives aimed at battling COVID-19

In a securities filing, Brazil-based JBS said the 700 million BRL (~US$120 million; 1 BRL = US$0.17) funding will be used to help communities where its workers live and work, reported Reuters.

Workers in the company's meatpacking facilities in Brazil and the United States have been infected with COVID-19, with some plants under temporary shutdown to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

400 million BRL (~US$68.7 million) will be allocated towards Brazil public health and social assistance measures in 17 states. These include the supply of personal protective equipment, food and the building of new hospitals.

Another 300 million BRL (~US$51.5 million) will be allocated to combat COVID-19 specifically in the United States, where JBS operates several beef and pork facilities.

According to a major United States meatpacking workers union, 10,000 workers in the industry have been infected with COVID-19 with 30 dead.

A JBS poultry factory in Brazil has been closed for 15 days from May 7 due to COVID-19. Other meat plants in Brazil are expected to follow suit with temporary closures.

-      Reuters