Supplier certifications would combat forced labor cases in Brazil

The case of the wineries in RS, which kept the employees in a job similar to slavery, reopens the discussion on the responsibility of the contractor

A recent case of forced labor rocked Brazil in late February. In response to a complaint, the Federal Traffic Police (PRF) rescued 206 people in a labor situation similar to slavery, on a farm in the municipality of Bento Gonçalves, in Rio Grande do Sul. After the rescue, carried out last Tuesday (28.02), the Ministry of Labor and Employment ascertained that the company that committed the crime supplied grapes for the Salton, Garibaldi and Aurora brands.

In addition to being forced to stay in place all the time, victims were also given spoiled food and physical torture if they complained about the working conditions. The repercussion on social media was immediate, with consumers rebelling and organizing a boycott of the products of the companies involved.

The president of the Brazilian Association for Conformity Assessment (Abrac), Synésio Batista, explains that the case could have been avoided if companies had carried out social audits or certification procedures, such as SMETA and Rainforest Alliance, which certify that suppliers perform ethical and sustainable work.

“Brands said they were unaware of this situation of the outsourced company they hired, but this statement may not change the picture,” Batista explains. “It is the obligation of every institution to know its suppliers, as they too are part of the company,” he adds.

The Rainforest Alliance seal is internationally recognized and guarantees consumers that the products they consume are grown and harvested in compliance with high social, economic and environmental standards, enabling the conservation of the ecosystem and biodiversity.

The SMETA Business Ethics Audit was created by members of Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange), an organization that advocates ethical and socially responsible business practices in the global supply chain. “The SMETA audit is applicable to everyone and not just Sedex members. It is an essential assessment for the company to know that its suppliers comply with labor laws and value occupational health and safety,” adds Synésio.

To obtain the Rainforest Alliance certification and the SMETA Social Audit it is necessary to contact and request quotes from the certifying bodies – like Abrac members -, “since this is the guarantee that quality services are recognized inside and outside Brazil”, concludes the president of Abrac.

About Abrac

Founded in 2009, the Brazilian Association for Conformity Assessment (Abrac) brings together the companies responsible for assessing the conformity of products, systems and testing and calibration laboratories, accredited by Inmetro and designated by Anatel, which offer themselves to citizens, working on their verification and certification with the aim of informing and protecting the consumer, in particular in matters of health, safety and the environment; promote fair competition; encourage continuous quality improvement; facilitate international trade; and strengthen the internal market by working with national activity regulators.

Website: https://abrac-ac.org.br/

Source: Terra

Rose

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