Costa Rican pineapple companies Natura Farms LWO and Bana Internacional Arero have allegedly fired 25 workers for forming a branch of the National Association of Public and Private Employees (ANEP), website Elpais.cr reported.

Frente Amplio deputy José María Villalta told the Legislative Assembly the workers' rights violation occured in Los Chile in the northern Alajuela province, the story reported.

"They were fired for wanting to join an organization of workers to defend their rights, violations that are occuring in pineapple farms in the canton of Los Chiles and in many other parts of the country," Villalta was quoted as saying.

"Labor rights are reaching closer to levels of slavery, to feudal conditions as if that part of the country is not governed by the Labor Code."

"The Ministry of Labor is totally absent - these workers work up to 15 hours, they are paid below minimum wage, now they are claiming the businesses still use carbofuran, a pesticide banned in the United States.

"Here they continue using it despite the Ministry of Health telling them not to use it, and when a worker wants to join a union to complain they are fired and put on the black list."

Natura Farms LWO is not related to Natura Farms in Minnesota.

Photo: www.tradenote.net

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