In a historic achievement for Argentina and all of Latin America, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has removed Argentine blueberries from the “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor” (TVPRA List)
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ilab/child_labor_reports/tda2023/2024-tvpra-list-of-goods.pdf
(see page 40 and Appendix 7 on page 140).
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This milestone, which makes Argentina the first Latin American country to reach this goal, is the result of seven years of coordinated efforts between the private sector, led by the ABC – Argentine Blueberry Committee and the Regional Producers Associations APRATUC, APAMA, and CAPAB; the public sector, including the national government through the “Buena Cosecha” Program and the Network of Companies Against Child Labor; provincial governments through COPRETIs and the ministries of Labor, Education, Social Development, and local governments; and civil society, represented by the NGO Desarrollo y Autogestión (DYA), a specialist in child labor issues. The National Registry of Rural Workers and Employers (RENATRE), a mixed entity, and the rural workers’ union (UATRE) were also key participants in this collective effort.
ABC, together with DYA, led the Responsible Agricultural Production Project (PAR), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). The PAR project designed, promoted, and implemented the National Social Compliance System, which eradicated child labor in blueberry fields in Tucumán, Buenos Aires, and Entre Ríos. This system has been crucial in preventing, monitoring, and addressing child labor in agricultural production, ensuring that the rights of children and adolescents are respected. Hundreds of children received care and returned to school as a result of this initiative.
Source: https://www.abcsocial.org.ar/
The challenge began in 2009, when Argentine blueberries were added to the TVPRA List due to the involvement of minors in the harvest, which affected their school attendance. However, thanks to intersectoral efforts, a significant reduction in child labor in blueberry production has been achieved, limiting it to isolated, sporadic cases. The technical assistance provided by DYA, combined with the implementation of corporate social responsibility measures and the deployment of state and union programs, has led to a significant transformation of the sector.
This success not only represents progress for Argentina but also serves as a model for the entire region. The collaboration between the various stakeholders has proven effective in eliminating child labor.
Globally, over 160 million children remain involved in child labor. In a press conference today, USDOL officials highlighted how Argentina’s experience demonstrates that it is possible to eradicate these practices through cooperation between governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.
This success story underscores the shared responsibility to continue working to ensure that the rights of children and adolescents are fully respected, not only in the blueberry sector at the national level but across all productive chains in the country.
Press Contact:
Carla Ginobili