Large scale Peruvian exporter Camposol has hit back at allegations of worker abuse levelled at it in a new report which has upped the pressure to introduce a groceries adjudicator.
Research undertaken by Dutch research organisation SOMO and commissioned by the Agribusiness Action Initiative Europe, into the working conditions in the production of mangos from Peru accused leading companies of paying “starvation wages, extremely long working days without a permanent contract and no trade union to stand up for you”.
The 22-page report alleges workers are working “excessive overtime” of more than 11 hours a day seven days a week in the peak of the mango season and that those not opting for the voluntary overtime will be marked out as problematic.
The research said: “The companies’ tendency to not respect freedom of association, discriminate against pregnant women and not grant appropriate contracts, compel workers to overtime and not always record overtime properly.”
In a statement released to the British media, Camposol said there are three workers unions within the company, it has clearly set out safety standards and labour regulations stipulate an eight hour working day or a 48-hour week.
It said: “As a member of the Global Pact, Camposol is compelled to respect and defend internationally recognised fundamental human rights, within its scope of influence, as well as ensuring that the company is not an accomplice to the erosion of these rights.”
Camposol said it strictly applies payment of remunerations according to Article 7 of Law 27360, it “offers equal opportunities without discrimination” and in Camposol there “are no occurrences of physical or psychological abuse”.
Ethical rights body Banana Link said: “The research indicates costs and risks, and risks originating from UK grocery retailers are being transmitted by intermediary importers to overseas suppliers.”
Banana Link’s international co-ordinator Alistair Smith said: “Even though supermarkets are increasingly implementing policies to combat abuses in overseas chains, this process is slow, and measures sometimes have little effect, because they are not strict enough. The UK government should urgently press ahead with its plans to establish a [Groceries Supply Code of Practice] adjudicator which will go some way to providing overseas suppliers with a mechanism to report abuses.”
The report concluded: “Labour conditions for the largest group of workers in this industry, the field and packing factory workers are below par: poverty wages, involuntary excessive working days for extensive periods of time and obstruction of freedom of association. Moreover, the health and safety conditions are not ideal, the type of work is physically demanding and the necessary tools and protective clothing are not always provided.”
Camposol, Sociedad Agricola Saturno SA and Sunshine Export SAC were all implicated in the report, the latter two could not be reached for comment.
Camposol is Peru’s largest exporter of asparagus and peppers and the second largest exporter of mangos and avocados.
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