Brazil: At least two certified plants involved in supplying ethanol to major global airlines have been implicated in recent slave labour scandals, says report; incl.companies' comments
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 5 Dez 2024
Standort: Brasilien
Unternehmen
bp - Client , BP Bunge Bioenergia (joint venture Bunge and BP) - ClientAndere
Not Reported ( Zucker ) - EmployerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Brasilien , Landwirtschaft & Viehzucht , Gender not reported , Documented migrants )Themen
Zwangsarbeit & moderne Sklaverei , Personalbeschaffungsgebühren , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Occupational Health & Safety , VerletzungenAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: Severance pay and individual moral damages paid to the 212 workers totalled 676,770 USD (3.8 million BRL). In response to questions submitted by Repórter Brasil, BP Bunge Bioenergia stated that, as soon as it became aware of the case of forced labour involving an outsourced service provider, it “acted swiftly in defense of the workers,” paying compensation to those rescued." BP Oil International had not responded to the reporters by the end of the investigation.
Art der Quelle: NGO
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 5 Dez 2024
Standort: Brasilien
Unternehmen
Shell plc - Other Value Chain Entity , Usina Coruripe - Client , Raizen (joint venture Shell & Cosan) - Client , Grupo Ipiranga - Client , Vibra Energia - Client , Mitsui & Co. - ClientAndere
Not Reported ( Arbeitsagenturen ) - RecruiterBetroffen
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Brasilien , Landwirtschaft & Viehzucht , Gender not reported , Documented migrants )Themen
Zwangsarbeit & moderne Sklaverei , Personalbeschaffungsgebühren , Social Security , Denial of permanent contracts , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Poverty Wages , Occupational Health & Safety , Verletzungen , ToteAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: The company tried twice to appeal against the penalties applied in 2022 as a result of the case, without success. The appeals were examined by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which confirmed, in June 2024, the punishment to the Coruripe Mill for subjecting workers to forced labour. When contacted by Repórter Brasil, Coruripe stated that it “categorically refutes the accusations” and that the notices of violation for subjecting 18 workers to slave-like conditions are the subject of an Action for Annulment. It also said that the Federal Police opened a criminal investigation into the case, concluding that “Coruripe had not practised forced labour”. When contacted by Repórter Brasil, the Ipiranga Group reported – without mentioning the specific case – that it has systems for controlling and periodically monitoring its suppliers. Vibra stated that it has a strict policy regarding human rights violations and that it will investigate the reported facts. Mitsui & Co said it does not have direct, active contracts with the Brazilian company but one of its suppliers sources ethanol from Coruripe. Shell had not commented by the time the report was published. Raizen also replied tot he reports, including saying that it "constantly monitors processes and assesses the situation of its partners in accordance with its supplier code of conduct. The company informs that it has no links with companies that appear on the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Register of Employers that have subjected workers to forced labour".
Art der Quelle: NGO
Zusammenfassung
Date Reported: 5 Dez 2024
Standort: Brasilien
Unternehmen
Colombo Agroindústria (Açúcar Caravelas) - Client , Raizen (joint venture Shell & Cosan) - Client , Greenfield - Other Value Chain Entity , Shell plc - Other Value Chain EntityAndere
Not Reported ( Zucker ) - EmployerBetroffen
Total individuals affected: 11
Wanderarbeitnehmer & eingewanderte Arbeitnehmer: ( Number unknown - Brasilien , Landwirtschaft & Viehzucht , Gender not reported , Documented migrants )Themen
Wasserzugang , Precarious/Unsuitable Living Conditions , Zwangsarbeit & moderne SklavereiAntwort
Antwort erbeten: Ja, von Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Ergriffene Maßnahmen: When contacted by the reporters, Colombo stated that it was harmed at the time by the “hasty disclosure of information that turned out to be false after the civil and criminal investigations, which found no forced labour practices” at the service provider company. The sanction applied to the outsourced company of forced labour remains in effect. Colombo then responded that it no longer has a contract with that service provider. Greenfield, a Raízen client in the United States and Canada, stated that it has no direct relations with Colombo, Cerradinho and Coruripe. However, it is seeking out Raízen the supplier to understand what actions have been or will be taken regarding the allegations cited in the report. Raizen also replied to the reports, including saying that it "constantly monitors processes and assesses the situation of its partners in accordance with its supplier code of conduct. The company informs that it has no links with companies that appear on the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s Register of Employers that have subjected workers to forced labour". Shell had not commented by the time the report was published.
Art der Quelle: NGO
Freepik
"Certified ethanol produced in Brazil for global airlines linked to slave labor", 05 December 2024
...As major global airlines embark on decarbonization plans, Brazil, the world’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol for fuel, could become a key supplier of sustainable aviation fuel.
In January, LanzaJet, the first ethanol-based aviation fuel producer, was launched in the United States. The company, backed by shareholders such as British Airways and Southwest Airlines, plans to source primarily from Brazil and requires sustainability certification from its suppliers. However, according to a new report from Repórter Brasil, at least two certified plants involved in supplying ethanol have been implicated in recent slave labor scandals. The “Enslaved in Ethanol” report also reveals other previously unknown links between multinational corporations and ethanol suppliers involved in severe human rights violations...
Most reported cases occurred during sugarcane planting, an activity impacted by a significant regulatory change. The 2017 outsourcing law facilitated the recruitment of rural laborers by independent contractors, known as gatos, instead of direct hiring by mills or farmers. Experts consulted noted that this shift reduces protections and dilutes accountability for living conditions, food and payment provided to seasonal workers...
One of the Brazilian companies certified to supply aviation fuel is Usina Coruripe. In 2022, 18 workers were rescued from conditions akin to slavery on sugarcane plantations exclusively supplying the company in Minas Gerais. A federal inspection revealed that these workers, hired through a subcontractor, were housed 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the fields where they worked, in precarious accommodation without drinkable water or beds.
According to inspectors, they spent six hours a day commuting, and one woman, who also cared for her child after work, slept only four hours per night. Workers had to purchase their food and living necessities themselves...
In 2024, Usina Coruripe obtained the ISCC Corsia Plus certification, which is mandatory to access the aviation fuel market. The certification prohibits forced labor and illegal salary deductions...
The ISCC Corsia Plus program did not respond to contact attempts by Repórter Brasil. LanzaJet, which uses the certification as a supplier approval criterion, stated it maintains a “robust business conduct code across its supply chain,” including human rights audits conducted annually by external agents...
Another plant granted certification, in October 2023, was BP Bunge Bioenergia, a joint venture between agribusiness giant Bunge and British Petroleum (BP). Seven months earlier, 212 workers had been rescued from conditions resembling slavery on sugarcane plantations supplying the company in Minas Gerais and Goiás, marking the largest rescue of enslaved workers that year...Days before the rescue, some workers were reportedly exposed to pesticides sprayed by airplanes, resulting in symptoms like itching, vomiting and headaches.
BP Bunge Bioenergia, recently renamed BP Bioenergia after Bunge exited the business, was also accused of manipulating data and not cooperating with investigations into a 2021 fire in a sugarcane field that engulfed a bus carrying 15 workers, killing three. The company stated it compensated rescued workers and adjusted planting processes following the incident. Regarding the fire, it claimed to have supported affected workers and collaborated with authorities...