ILO promotes occupational safety and health training for leaders in Colombia’s sugar sector

BOGOTÁ (ILO News) - This initiative responds to the need to strengthen technical capacities in the agro-industrial sector, following the findings of a study on incentives and constraints related to OSH in the sugarcane supply chain. Among the key incentives identified were the strong commitment of supply chain stakeholders to workplace safety, requirements set by national and international clients, sustainability certifications, and the active presence of trade unions with collective agreements in place.

However, the study also revealed the need to adapt OSH legislation to the agricultural context, enhance specialised technical training, and address challenges such as the generational renewal of the workforce. The study, which includes data on accidents, key risks and relevant stakeholders, is available online for public consultation.

Based on these findings, the ILO and sector stakeholders developed a roadmap to improve OSH conditions and strengthen institutional and human capacities. The first step in this process involved the creation of two methodological guides, which formed the basis for a tripartite training programme aimed at enhancing the competencies of leaders and supervisors in high-risk field and harvest activities. The priority tasks addressed were:

• Manual cane cutting
• Mechanical cane cutting
• Herbicide application
• Coupling and uncoupling of wagons
• Harvester maintenance

The training was held during the first two weeks of April 2025, in four sessions across the northern and southern zones of Valle del Cauca. It brought together over 200 participants, including representatives from Asocaña, 13 sugar mills (Manuelita, María Luisa, Providencia, Pichichí, Mayagüez, Riopaila, Castilla, Incauca, Cabaña, Occidente, Risaralda, San Carlos and Carmelita), national trade union centres (CUT, CTC, CGT), grassroots unions, public institutions such as the Ministry of Labour and the Departmental Health Secretariat, the workers' compensation administrator ARL Sura, as well as representatives from academia.