From being praised for contributing to the disinfection of the coronavirus on public roads of the populations with their own tractors, to being under suspicion and being "stigmatized" by the Government itself . This is how the agrarian sector feels, who have strongly condemned the instructions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to Labor inspectors to pursue the alleged conditions of "labor slavery or similar practices" or "ill-treatment" in agricultural campaigns May and June.

Such forms also include surveillance to detect if "the worker has bruises" or if "they are locked up in the workplace" with "visible signs indicating that they cannot leave the workplace, such as barbed wire or the presence of guards "as published by El Independiente . The purpose of the campaign - in addition to ensuring that protection measures against the health crisis are being carried out in agricultural productions - is "to guarantee respect for the rights of workers" and to "safeguard" their dignity against possible abuses and assaults.

The agrarian organizations have reacted with "incredulity, stupor and indignation" the extraordinary inspection campaign ordered by Minister Yolanda Díaz, from whom Asaja Córdoba and Asaja Extremadura have already called for the resignation : "They are unacceptable and characteristic of someone who acts in bad faith promoted by an inadmissible ideological sectarianism and an absolute ignorance of reality, which make her incapable of carrying out her functions as minister, "they pointed out. In addition, they have asked the President of the Government for his dismissal "in a sudden manner or otherwise it would be understood that he supports this attack on our sector."

In a statement, they add that "instead of attacking farmers and ranchers, it should start by sanctioning and inspecting some of their highly representative party colleagues, who are those who do not pay Social Security."

Background

In parallel, Asaja Extremadura recalls that it is not the first time that Yolanda Díaz behaves in a "sectarian" way with the agrarian representatives. Thus, he recalls how it was the head of Labor herself who vetoed her presence at the last meeting at the first meeting that the agrarian sector was going to hold with the unions at the Ministry when the crisis in rural prices broke out, after joining at the last minute The second vice president of the Government, Pablo Iglesias, met.

That maneuver -at the end of January- coincided with the days before, the UGT general secretary, Pepe Sánchez , had indicated that the agrarian protests unleashed in Don Benito (Badajoz), which had ended with incidents with the Police and several wounded, were starring "the right landowner, carca".

As for the work instructions for these campaigns - which have included unemployed people caused by the Covid-19 health crisis, another sector organization, COAG Andalucía , has expressed itself in terms similar to Asaja's complaints and has warned that "Spain is in Europe, this is not Africa or any country with a dictatorship where the people are in a slave plan. Are we crazy?"

In addition, he has indicated that "we are fed up with the fact that, when these dates arrive and in other competing countries they begin to release their productions, they will make war with this type of statement," says COAG, who regrets that the Government itself collaborates " with toxic campaigns of the European competition against the Andalusian countryside ", which has generated discomfort in the organization and in the group of professionals in the field.

Ministry response

For its part, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security has indicated that the Labor and Social Security Inspection (ITSS) must be prepared and have protocols to detect "any case" of violation or abuse of labor rights, in "all" sectors, including the primary. Sources from the Ministry have indicated to Efeagro that the Inspectorate carries out specific campaigns in the agricultural sector, "and in all sectors", to monitor compliance with labor regulations.

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