June 3, 2020
2,399 meat plant workers in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil infected with COVID-19
The Brazilian labour prosecutors' office said estimated 2,399 meat plant workers from 24 slaughterhouses in 18 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul have been infected by COVID-19, Reuters reported.
According to health ministry statistics, this accounts for 25.7% of the 9,332 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Rio Grande do Sul and supports evidence that meatpackers are COVID-19 hotspots in Brazil.
Paulo Paim, Senator of Rio Grande do Sul said some 50,000 people in the state are employed by meatpackers, with an average of 2,000 workers per plant.
JBS SA and BRF SA, two major Brazilian meatpackers own facilities in Rio Grande do Sul. Both companies have closed their plants in the state temporarily due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 outbreaks have also been discovered in the state of Santa Catarina, where there are 60,000 workers in the poultry and pork sectors there.
On May 30, JBS reached a settlement with labour authorities to reopen its Santa Catarina poultry plant, which has been shut down on May 18.
There are 446 meat plants in Brazil. These are divided to 194 beef plants, 148 poultry plants, 90 pork plants and 14 plants for slaughtering other meats.
Brazil is the top exporter for beef and chicken globally, and the fourth biggest exporter of pork.
- Reuters