A Brazilian labor court has ordered the country’s mega food producer/processor, JBS SA, to test its workers for COVID-19 at one of its meatpacking plant in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, amidst reports that 32 meat-packing plants in the country have infected workers, Reuters reported June 23. This is a pattern seen in similar plants in the U.S. and Europe.
Rio Grande do Sul is Brazil’s third-largest chicken exporter and producer. JBS was ordered to test all workers at its Tres Passos plant in the state and put any worker who tested positive on 14-days paid leave. Thus far, 4,957 workers in the state’s meatpacking plants, across 23 municipalities, have tested positive, accounting for 24.15 percent of the states 19,710 cases.
Brazilian labor authorities and prosecutors have had JBS in their sights because of its complete disregard for the well-being of its workers and failure to implement measures to protect their health. Money Times reported today that the Regional Labor Court in Rio Grando do Sul has just suspended operations at a JBS slaughterhouse in Passo Fundo, due to its failure to take necessary steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus. [CRR]
