Trade unionist Zorayda: "We don't get sunscreen or proper sun caps"

Zorayda Gómez Duarte (44) was born and raised in San Alberto (Cesar). She still lives there now, as a single mother with three children - two adults and one eight-year-old. Duarte has worked on oil palm plantations in the service of Ceresagro SAS for over 12 years.

Since 2018, Zorayda has been administrator of the San Alberto branch of the palm oil trade union Sintrainagro, which she helped set up that same year and which today represents more than 800 workers in the region.

What is a typical day for you, as a disease researcher?

"I get up at 3.30 am and take the bus to the plantation. We walk from row to row of palm trees to identify and register cases of disease. We start at 5.30 am and finish at 1.30 pm, but my day does not end until around 11 pm, due to household chores and caring for my youngest child."

What protective equipment does the company provide?

"We get a helmet, a hood, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, work trousers and boots. For tasks like pollination or pest control, we also use spray pumps. However, there is no specific protection from the sun - we do not have sunscreen or proper sun caps - and there are no portable sanitary facilities or adequate latrines on the plots. Often we have to relieve ourselves in the open and walk long distances to find basic facilities, which exposes us to health risks and undignified conditions."

Zorayda's story reveals the double burden shouldered by women workers and highlights the persistent gaps in labour protection and sanitary provision on Colombian oil palm plantations. The lack of portable sanitation facilities and lack of adequate shade underscores the precarious conditions on the plantations, where basic hygiene and safety measures leave much to be desired.

How do you balance your work with your role as a single mother?

"That is a big challenge: I barely sleep four hours a day and must often leave my child alone. Moreover, I am in much pain. Two years ago I was diagnosed with degenerative osteoarthritis, which makes both my daily work and the housework much harder."

Your son was diagnosed with cancer. How did you deal with it during that period?

"On 8 October 2005, he was diagnosed with leukaemia. We spent almost six months in Bogotá for the transplant; my eldest son was the donor. My salary barely covered the basic needs at home, so it was certainly not enough to travel to other cities for specialist care, lodging, medicine and additional treatments. We had to organize lotteries, sell tamales (a traditional savoury or sweet dish) and borrow from relatives. Today, my son is healthy, but we still go for check-ups every six months."

Why did you decide to join a union and what did you achieve?

"I started working through a cooperative where we earned a fortnightly wage of 50 000 pesos (over 10 euros), which infuriated us. After five months without pay, during the time my son was sick, I said 'enough'! In 2018, we founded the San Alberto branch of Sintrainagro. After more than 20 days of strike, we obtained permanent contracts for more than 600 workers and arranged for all legally required benefits. It was worth it, and if I could do it again, I would, until we have eradicated the cooperatives that exploit workers."

Workers in Colombia's palm oil sector are in urgent need of dignified working conditions - from proper protective equipment to access to essential services. The trade union has emerged as a powerful catalyst for change. The 2018 strike, waged by more than 600 workers, resulted in permanent employment contracts and social security. This set a new standard for plain good work.

Interview: Mayra Alejandra Restrepo Sabaleta

Photo: Voces por el Trabajo