• As many as 94 percent of day laborers work with no contract 
  • It is crucial that consumers actively intervene for working conditions to improve for migrant agricultural workers 

Fundación Avina and its PERIPLO Project launched the Voltea al campo (Turn around and look at the land) campaign, initiating a public debate on the inadequate enforcement of legal protections, in view of the abuses and irregularities affecting migrant agricultural workers in Mexico and the United States (H2A temporary visa holders), and on the role that consumers have in advancing better work conditions in the rural sector.

The campaign calls on consumers to become informed and engage by requesting that companies share data on their production processes, in order to advance public and private sector commitments for fair conditions in the rural sector.

Voltea al campo focuses on visibility to make society aware of the rights-violations that these working people face. It also encourages reflection on current regulations and existing good practices for creating decent workplaces.

According to the Secretary of the Economy, at present, 78.9 percent of migrant agricultural laborers work under informal conditions, outdoing the average of all sectors in the country combined at 54.3 percent. This means they have no social security or basic worker benefits. According to the National Minimum Salary Commission, in 2020 alone, some 94 percent of agricultural workers had no work contract.

Voltea al campo widely discusses crucial information about the difficulties that agricultural workers have to cope with. There will be an activity on October 7, 2024 at the Casa Refugio Citlaltépetl cultural center (Citlaltépetl 25, Hipódromo Condesa) with a photography and art exhibit, as well as testimonies to help the public to turn toward the rural sector in all its complexity.

The campaign seeks to spotlight the fact that although agricultural work is essential for life, it takes place under extremely precarious conditions and we need to stand up for worker human rights. In Mexico, on January first, 2024, the minimum wage for day laborers went into effect almost all across the country at $8,442.60 pesos per month, and $11,246.00 pesos in the free zone on the northern border. Nevertheless, according to Data Mexico, average pay for day laborers, based on 5.3 working days and about 37 hours per work week is $3,000.04 pesos per month. This is an extremely low wage in view of the specialization and level of effort involved in doing these activities.

It also aims to provide information regarding the imperative to comply with human rights due diligence in order to implement good practices in value chains. This is the responsibility of businesses and involves assessing and mitigating the negative impacts of their activities on day laborers, ensuring their rights are respected in all phases of food production and distribution.

In this sense—on Agricultural Worker’s Day (May 15)—PERIPLO and its allies presented a series of proposals and demands to the newly elected officials. These demands are described in detail in the platform called “Citizen Proposals: Civil Society Agendas for 2023-2030” and point to—among other things—the need to ensure that migrant agricultural workers and the organizations that support them participate effectively in all the stages of making the policies that affect them. Work to enforce national and international regulations, so that day laborers can effectively access all their labor rights. Ensure ethical recruitment, ensure safety and risk prevention in the workplace and during travel. Set up strategies for the private sector to address joint responsibilities, and undertake measures for climate change prevention and mitigation in the agricultural sector and laborers. Exploring a series of actions as part of Voltea al campo.

The campaign looks into possibilities for improving the sector by becoming mindful of the role and responsibility toward labor rights of all people and companies involved in the agricultural value chains.

It also promotes policies that reinforce labor rights and safety for people who are migrant agricultural workers. Voltea al campo calls on consumers to become aware and collaborate in the construction of a fair environment, by requesting companies provide information and be more transparent regarding the processes they implement to ensure that labor rights are in place, and that they put in place best practices identified in the fair labor sector.

Understanding the working conditions that food production takes place in is fundamental for making informed decisions and supporting responsible processes that are respectful of human rights and the environment as well. Only with transparency, commitment and collective support can there be a rural sector that fully respects those who work the land.

Voltea al campo (Turn around and look at the land) makes it possible to sustain life, dignity and the collective future.

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PERIPLO

The PERIPLO Project comprises the following national and international civil society organizations: Centro de Acompañamiento a Migrantes (CAMINOS), Centro de los Derechos del Migrante Inc. (CDM), Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montaña Tlachinollan, Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Matías de Córdova, Centro de Estudios en Cooperación Internacional y Gestión Pública (CECIG), Centro de Información y Recursos sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos (CIEDH), Cierto Global, Nosotr@s por la Democracia, Oxfam Mexico, Stronger Together, Verité y Voces Mesoamericanas, Acción con Pueblos Migrantes. PERIPLO Project has been made possible thanks to the support of the Walmart Foundation.

Visit www.proyectoperiplo.org to learn more about the work that the project and its ally organizations carry out.

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