Symposium 'Sugar cane labour in Brazil in the twenty-first century: Transformations and Continuity'

Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane in the world. This economic activity has undergone many transformations in the last twenty-five years (2000-2025). The sugarcane fields expanded during this period, while machines became more widely used in the fields.

These changes affected work and workers in many ways, including work conditions, labour-market opportunities, health and safety and led to the loss of many jobs. During this period, approximately half a million jobs were lost. Now the question is: Where are the former sugarcane workers and what are they doing after losing their jobs?

The research uses quantitative and qualitative methods to seek answers about the current situation of former sugarcane workers. The quantitative data comes from official government databases, and the qualitative research involves fieldwork. Finally, the study seeks to understand how workers' lives have been affected by the mechanization of sugarcane fields.