Harvest of shame

This report documents the exploitation of child labour in Guatemala. In particular, the report explores the agricultural export sector with a specific focus on the company, Legumex.

The report finds that:

• the majority of Legumex’s 240 workers are children and teenagers 13 to 17 years old
• children are forced to work 6 hour weeks and 12 hour shifts
• workers are subject to poor working conditions including a frigid working environment
• excessively high production goals
• no workers are paid the minimum wage or overtime.

The report notes that the mark-up costs of the vegetable produced in the factory indicate that workers could be paid an adequate wage and workers’ rights could be enforced.

The report also gives information on Guatemala labour laws and documentation on the failure of the Central America Free Trade Agreement as well as findings from a US State Department Report on labour conditions in Guatemala.