USDOL Removes Argentine Blueberries from the TVPRA List

USDOL Removes Argentine Blueberries from the List of Goods Produced by Child Labor

Recently, the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) removed Argentine blueberries from the “List of Goods Produced by Child or Forced Labor” (TVPRA List), a significant step positioning Argentina as the first Latin American country to achieve this standard. This outcome is the result of years of coordinated efforts between blueberry-producing companies, local and provincial authorities, the national government, and the NGO Desarrollo y Autogestión (DYA), who have worked together to strengthen social compliance and prevent child labor in key production areas.

Since Argentine blueberries were added to the TVPRA List in 2009, the sector has implemented major changes, developing and applying monitoring and social assistance systems to improve labor conditions. The Argentine Blueberry Committee, in collaboration with the Child Labor-Free Responsible Agricultural Production Project (PAR) and DYA, has led the development of a Social Compliance System to prevent, monitor, and respond to any incidents. Currently, more than 50% of the country’s exportable production applies this system, which is subject to external audits to ensure best practices are in place.

Citromax’s Commitment to Child Protection

At Citromax, we have rigorously implemented the Social Compliance System (SCS) for blueberry harvesting since 2021 and, in 2024, became the first in the citrus industry to extend the SCS to lemon harvesting, always in partnership with the PAR Project and DYA. Our commitment to the welfare of the communities in which we operate is essential. The strategy included implementing new clauses in our contracts with contractors, working closely with supervisors to disseminate preventive messages, installing signs on our farms, conducting talks for harvest staff and contractors, and distributing informational brochures. Additionally, we established partnerships with Child Care Centers (CCI), providing a safe, free space for the children of harvest workers, allowing them to work with peace of mind. These actions have helped raise awareness among all industry workers and engage the community.

This progress in the blueberry sector is an important step that contributes to responsible social practices in Argentina and opens opportunities to strengthen responsible agricultural production throughout Latin America. At Citromax, we reaffirm our commitment to fighting child labor, contributing to a safe and ethical working environment for all our workers.

Source: List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor | U.S. Department of Labor

TVPRA; 2024 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor

@CitromaxGroup, 2024.