Apr
Child Labor Prevention
Leading the Way in Child Labor Prevention in the Agricultural Industry
Since 2021, we have been at the forefront of the fight against child labor in blueberry harvesting through the certification of the Social Compliance System (SCS). Thanks to our collaboration with DyA and the financial support from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), numerous initiatives have been undertaken to promote awareness of the importance of preventing child labor.
The strategy included implementing new clauses in our contracts with contractors, ensuring that children under 16 do not participate in transportation to the harvesting fields. Additionally, we have collaborated with our foremen to disseminate preventive messages, installed signs at the entrance of our farms, conducted talks with harvest staff and contractors, and distributed informative brochures. Furthermore, we established partnerships with Child Care Centers (CCI), providing a safe space for the children of harvesters, allowing them to work with peace of mind. These actions have not only impacted Citromax but have also raised awareness within the industry and the community about this critical issue.
Additionally, in 2023 we successfully passed the external audit conducted by IRAM, becoming one of the seven Argentine companies certified in all blueberry production fields where the SCS was implemented to prevent child labor. These seven companies, including Citromax, represent a significant 50% of the national blueberry production. This significant milestone for Citromax reflects our commitment to childhood, but we acknowledge that there is still work to be done in blueberry harvesting at the national level. We will remain committed to implementing effective measures and collaborating with other companies in the sector to ensure a future free of child labor in all berry production stages.
In March 2024, we welcomed the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) from Washington, D.C., to evaluate our program. During their visit, we toured the blueberry fields and our facilities, showcasing our unwavering commitment to the cause.
PIONEERING IN CHILD LABOR PREVENTION IN THE CITRUS INDUSTRY
This year, based on our years of experience, we have decided to expand the scope of the initiative to include lemon harvesting, making us pioneers in preventing child labor in the citrus industry. The first awareness-raising talks have already taken place, prior to the start of the lemon harvest, reaching both our staff and the contractors responsible for harvesting services.
Our goal is not only to ensure social compliance within our company but also to encourage all agricultural companies to join this cause.
ABOUT THE P.A.R. PROJECT
The P.A.R. Project (Responsible Agricultural Production Free of Child Labor) establishes a Social Compliance System (SCS), a voluntary mechanism implemented by companies, cooperatives, and productive sectors to prevent child labor (under 16 years old) and unprotected adolescent labor (between 16 and 17 years old) in the agricultural industry. It consists of 3 stages:
- Prevention: Training and raising awareness among different social actors and the community about the risks of child labor and unprotected adolescent labor.
- Monitoring: Preventing children and adolescents from entering the productive system.
- Attention: Reinforcing and recreating the community service network such as daycare centers, extended hours, training, health services, to protect the rights of children and adolescents.
This initiative sets as a minimum standard compliance with child labor regulations, and at its maximum, the development of Corporate Social Responsibility programs aimed at children, adolescents, and their families.
Funded by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), the P.A.R. Project has been implemented in regions such as Misiones and Tucumán, Argentina. We emphasize that this initiative not only aims to eradicate and prevent child labor from the production chain but also to promote safe and fair working conditions for all agricultural workers, thus contributing to the sustainable development of communities and the well-being of future generations.
Date: April 15, 2024
@CitromaxGroup