Citrus production stands out in generating employment in the 2023-24 harvest

Citrus farming once again appears as one of the main employers in Brazil in the 2023/2024 harvest, which covers the period from July 2023 to June 2024. According to data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed Persons (Caged), compiled by the National Association of Exporters of Citrus Juices (CitrusBR), the sector registered 57.368 admissions, an increase of 2,22% compared to the previous harvest, which accounted for 56.122 new jobs. This number represents the highest volume of admissions to the citrus industry in the last ten years.

Ibiapaba Netto (in the photo), executive director of CitrusBR, highlighted the importance of labor for orange production, which is predominantly manual, as one of the factors driving the increase in job creation, even in a scenario of reduction in the supply of fruits. The balance between admissions and dismissals in the 2023/2024 harvest resulted in a positive balance of 2.163 jobs.

In the first six months of 2024, the citrus industry generated 33.913 jobs, a 10% growth compared to the 30.786 vacancies created in the same period of 2023. The majority of these admissions occurred in the state of São Paulo, which accounted for 78% of vacancies, totaling 45.112 new jobs. The Citrus Belt, a region responsible for a large part of the country's orange production, was the main hub for generating jobs in the sector.

Netto highlighted the importance of citrus farming as a vital sector for the economic development of the interior of São Paulo, highlighting the positive impact on income generation and the provision of formal jobs in regions that lack other opportunities.

Bill 751/2023, known as the "Safristas PL", could further reinforce the role of citrus farming as one of the main job generators. Authored by federal deputy Zé Vitor (PL-MG), the proposal allows harvest workers, with six-month employment contracts, to remain in government income programs. The measure, already approved by the Chamber of Deputies, is now awaiting an urgent vote in the Senate.

Ibiapaba Netto believes that the approval of the bill will be an important step towards combating informality in the sector, by offering more security for both employers and workers. The proposal seeks to guarantee labor rights and encourage the formalization of contracts, contributing to the stability of the rural labor market.