In the last post on the biO3 blog, Bonsucro Production Standard V5.1 was introduced and some changes were introduced. The intention now is to continue and explain changes that occurred in the Principle 2.
On v4.2, the beginning 2 is “Respect Human Rights and Labor Standards”, and in v5.1 “Respect Labor Rights and Health and Operational Safety Standards”. As in the Principle 1, that tries to pass the same message in both versions of Standard, O 2 also brings a similar approach in general. The main concern is with human rights., fundamental and indispensable approach in the day to day of any company, entity, government and civil society.
According to Mariana Parra, Public Policy coordinator at the Ethos Institute, respect for human rights by companies is not a voluntary action, but a matter of law, compliance with legal obligations. It is necessary to invest human and financial resources to implement a management that takes into account respect for human rights.
the first criterion (2.1) of v4.2 falls under “comply with the ILO working conventions (International Labor Organization), governing child labor, forced labour, discrimination and freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining”., with main indicator being “minimum age of workers”. This indicator applies to all workers who carry out activities on the operator's premises (including sugarcane transport), as well as on all farms included in the scope of certification, regardless of their contractual status. No annex da v4.2, on the page 24, there is a table based on ages included in ILO Conventions C138 (Minimum age) e C182 (worst forms of child labor). The aim is to ensure that no children are employed/work in the facility, in accordance with Conventions C138, ILO C182 and C184.
Two other main indicators of the old version of the Standard are “Absence of forced or compulsory labor” (indicator 2.1.2) and “Absence of discrimination” (indicator 2.1.3). The first aims to ensure that there is no forced labor, slave or involuntary, that there is no reliance on human trafficking, there is no threat of sanction, that employees are free to leave at any time with reasonable notice and are free to leave at the end of their shift. no indicator 2.1.3, the term discrimination includes any distinction, exclusion or preference, founded on race, cor, genre, religion, political opinion, national descent or social origin, which has the effect of destroying or altering equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation. Discrimination can take the form of dismissal, transfer, relocation, relegation, denial of remuneration, social benefits and/or professional training, among others.
What has changed?
On v5.1, the beginning 2 consists of “respect for labor rights and occupational health and safety standards”. As a criterion 2.1, “Provide a safe and healthy work environment in workplace operations”, and “key health and safety risks are documented, evaluated, communicated to workers and mitigated” as one of the main indicators. It is, indicates that Health and Safety assessments must adhere to applicable standards (legislation, policy and best practices) with respect to ensuring that employment does not compromise the health or safety of employees. Health and safety risks will be assessed against occupational hazards. Other highlighted indicators are “health and safety risks are managed through plans implemented and adhered to” and “Appropriate personal protective equipment provided and used by all workers free of charge”.
Thus, note that in the criterion 2.1 yes v4.2, physical and human aspects were highlighted in the work environment, such as the minimum age for workers to work and intolerance and discrimination being inadmissible in the environment. in the criterion 2.1 from v5.1, health and safety at work stood out, basic rights and risk assessment; although, the next (2.2), brings out as main indicators the minimum age for work and absence of debt bondage, trafficking and forced labor, as in the past version, but in different conformation and order of appearance.
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