Recently Aurora S.A. a major meat producer in Brazil signed a consent agreement with Federal officials in Brazil requiring routine testing of employees for COVID-19 and enhanced protective measures. Aurora employs 26,000 workers in sixteen plants.
BRF, a second major meat and poultry processor in Brazil announced a seven percent positive rate among 5,000 workers at a plant in Concordia in Santa Catarina State. BRF plants are running at under capacity but have not been closed other than in two locations where state or local public health authorities have enforced suspension of operations affecting plants operated by both BRF and JBS SA.
On May 30th JBS SA obtained a ruling from a labor court allowing re-opening of the Ipumirim plant in Santa Catarina State, processing 850,000 birds per week. This action, subject to complying with safety regulations has prevented euthanasia of up to a million birds. JBS SA are under a court mandate issued on May 28th to provide protection to workers, to implement testing of those showing symptoms and to cease knowingly retaining workers with illness on processing lines. Deviations from acceptable and prudent precautions were documented by independent auditors but wrongdoing was denied by the company.