Ministry of Labor evaluates CAEI's human rights policies

The Ministry of Labor held a working meeting with representatives of the Sugar Consortium of Industrial Companies CAEI to evaluate the company's policies to respect and ensure human rights, as well as its efforts to prevent child labor in its sugarcane plantations.

The meeting, held at the company's facilities, was attended on behalf of the government by Mayrenis Corniel, Vice Minister of Vulnerable Sectors and Child Labor; Federico Enemencio Gomera, Director of Policies for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor; Leonor Martinez, the Ministry’s provincial representative; as well as Dario Cueto, Supervisory Labor Inspector.  Navia Betances, Higüamo Regional Director of the National Council for Children (CONANI), was also present.

Representing CAEI were Alberto Potes, Executive Vice President; Benigno Trueba, Assistant Vice President; Josefina Dieguez, Director of Sustainability; Héctor León, Director of Human Resources; as well as Jacqueline Vásquez, Social Programs Manger and Ricardo Baez, Occupational Health and Safety Manager.

During the meeting, CAEI presented its management structure, various control tools and measures to prevent child and forced labor, and highlighted its commitment towards protection, respect, and non-discrimination for all workers.  CAEI also explained how its new  biometric system (using fingerprints), and the signing of work contracts in each harvest season, has facilitated a much easier and better organization of human resources in the agricultural and manufacturing departments of ​​the company. 

The company indicated that it educates its workers on child and forced labor issues, so that they are aware of their labor rights and its policy of zero tolerance for child labor. 

On behalf of CAEI, Héctor León, thanked the Ministry of Labor officials for their visit and reiterated the company’s commitment to continue providing fair compensation to its workforce, respecting the freedom of association, as well as supporting the documentation process of all foreign employees of the company and their families. 

“CAEI's commitment to its people goes beyond policies and compliance with local and international regulations. It is an institutional decision that invites us to work every day to guarantee their safety and trust,” concluded León.