Labor prosecutors in Brazil have initiated legal proceedings against JBS, the world's largest meatpacking company, alleging that it purchased cattle from farms where workers endured conditions akin to slavery. The civil lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in a labor court in the northern state of Para, seeks approximately 119 million reais (around $24 million) in damages. This sum, according to prosecutors, corresponds to the total value of transactions between JBS and the implicated suppliers.
Systematic Negligence Alleged
According to the court filing, a total of 53 workers were rescued from properties owned by seven ranchers who supplied JBS between 2014 and 2025. These employers have been listed in Brazil's official registry of companies found to have subjected workers to slave-like conditions. Prosecutors accused JBS of demonstrating a systematic pattern of negligence in its supply chain oversight. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Broader Context of Labor and Environmental Issues
Brazil holds the title of the world's largest beef producer, accounting for roughly 20% of global output. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Brazil has recently overtaken the United States, which now represents about 19% of worldwide beef production. The labor prosecutors' statement highlighted that cattle ranching is responsible for the highest number of rescued workers in Brazil and is also a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, where Para state is located.
In a related development, the Office of the United States Trade Representative included Brazil on a list of 60 countries under investigation for forced labor in March. JBS, with a market capitalization of about $17 billion, operates plants in the United States, including one in Colorado where workers staged a three-week strike earlier this year.
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