American multinational company Cargill is condemned in Brazil for slave and child labor

Cargill was ordered to pay a fine of approximately $121,000 for moral and collective damages, according to a statement released by the Department of Labor. Cases of the use of slave labor occurred on farms in the states of Bahia and Pará, where the multinational company directly or indirectly purchased raw materials for the production of chocolate and cocoa butter.

Judge Nayara Lage Pereira of the Bahia Labor Court, responsible for hearing the case at first instance, There is no doubt that the practice of slave labor and child exploitation existed on cocoa farms.

“By giving preference to hiring through intermediaries, the defendant company is increasingly encouraging the so-called material outsourcing system, providing the opportunity to make labor relations even more unstable,” Togada said.

Brazil: multinational Cargill condemned for promoting slave and child labor https://t.co/QXxkLxzzwf

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Registration of employment contracts

The company, in addition to paying the fine, must take a number of measures to establish “ethical relations” in the production chain.including the formalization of labor contracts with all cocoa producers and suppliers with whom it negotiates.

According to the accuser, The American multinational said there was no legal duty to oversee the production chain. and emphasized that he does not maintain any labor relations with the estates, since he acts as a “simple buyer.” It also said it has a program to promote decent work and combat child labor and that it will not accept products or terminate contracts if violations occur.