Brazil’s meat plant workers at risk from ‘inconceivable’ plan to cut break times

As exports boom, the industry is backing plans to restrict rest periods for those doing hazardous work in low temperatures

The health of hundreds of thousands of meat plant workers in Brazil is at risk from an industry-backed plan to reduce breaks given to employees, say workers' rights groups in the country.

In the midst of a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 350,000 Brazilians, President Jair Bolsonaro's government, parliament and the meat industry have been pushing for a move to review the laws and regulations protecting workers at slaughter plants.