Codeh Ica ‘Women’s Agenda’ on Agricultural Export Workers Issues | Edition

Codeh Ica reports on the Women’s Agenda, which in previous years brought together hundreds of women to identify problems in the agri-export sector, where workers victim of abuse their rights were not respected Labor rights.

a series of questions

The Gender Equality and Due Diligence Program in Agricultural Exports brought together 540 women, including farmers, agricultural producers, community members, agri-export workers, teenagers, teachers, domestic workers, youth activists, businessmen, university students, etc., in order to be exposed Problems in Agriculture.

Codeh Ica representative Rosario Huayanca said that 35 organizations from different fields participated in the meeting, and the agenda has seven basic axes: decent work, discrimination, gender-based violence, care work, political participation, health, environment and education, all for respect women. institutions, defense of territory and livelihoods.

“Each workshop consisted of 50 women. Women’s issues in agricultural exports were raised. Deficiencies in health, education, politics were evident and it proved difficult for women to organize. Women said that when they became common, unions, Secretary of the federation, that is not the same relationship, there is always a tense relationship. In addition, in agricultural exports, women suffer workplace harassment, sexual harassment, and discrimination.”

Among the most serious problems, he explained, were the toilets being located far away from workers, and because they were inaccessible, women retained urine resulting in urinary tract infections, were not allowed to use the toilet when they menstruated, and they were inhaled by the fumigation of chemicals. Women citizens are also victims of workplace harassment on farms, inadequate water, malnutrition and short working hours. They are more susceptible to gastritis, skin problems from exposure to chemicals and UV rays, arthritis and osteoarthritis when standing for too long. Varicose veins and swollen feet from fluid retention, conjunctivitis from sulfur exposure, and even cancer from long-term chemical exposure.

Women working in agriculture also experience mental health consequences as they are forced to leave their sons and daughters alone to the workplace, but on farms they are restricted from using mobile phones to communicate with minors, leading to anxiety about their Whether their children are well or not, they have to go out in the early hours, worry about becoming victims of crime, they suffer because they don’t have enough money, they feel stressed and depressed because they feel alone. No support.

“A lot of people from the mountains and the Amazon go to agricultural exports and the bosses humiliate the workers, they call them mountain women, they are useless, if you don’t want to be here, get out. In the case of the surrogate mothers, they are fired because” “The company doesn’t want to take the chance,” and the other side of it is when a worker wants to join a union and the company fires her despite 10 or 11 years of service, they are also fired when they report workplace harassment, sexual harassment, abuse.” added the representative of Codeh Ica.

He concluded that in Ika, the agro-industry employs up to 120,000 workers, 60 to 70% of whom are women, so public institutions and private companies must prioritize more effective action (training, intervention, sanctions) against farm Multiple problems encountered by workers.

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