JBS Brazil plant temporarily closed, auditor says
Labour irregularities cited as cause of closure
17 April 2024
1 minute read
By: A JBS SA beef plant in the centre western state of Goias in Brazil was ordered shut for two days by labor auditors over irregular work conditions, Reuters reported, citing one of auditors who inspected the facility last week on Wednesday.
JBS immediately presented "an adaptation plan" which has been accepted by the Ministry of Labour and Employment and is being executed, the meat company said.
Notice of the closure was posted on the national labour auditors' union (Sinait) website earlier this week.
The auditors closed the plant on Friday after finding employees were routinely subjected to "exhausting" work shifts of 10 to 16 hours a day, auditor Roberto Mendes said, confirming details in Sinait's post.
The plant, with about 970 employees, was allowed to reopen on Monday after the company presented the plan to adjust work conditions, Mendes told Reuters. Auditors will verify those conditions on weekly basis, he said.
JBS said "activities in the unit were not interrupted and continue normally."
According to the Brazilian agriculture ministry, JBS' Senador Canedo plant is authorized to export beef to Egypt, Mexico, Singapore, China and other countries. The facility can process more than 80 cows per hour and has over 20 tons of storage capacity.
