Abstract

DESALVO, Agustina. Seasonal migrations: the case of Santiago del Estero workers in the detasseling of corn (2009-2012). Trab. soc. [online]. 2014, n.22, pp.37-66. ISSN 1514-6871.

Santiago del Estero has historically been an expelling labor province, rural and urban. Not only is definitive migration characteristic of the province, but so too are significant seasonal migrations. That is, those involving temporary displacement of the population and that, in general, may be restricted to harvest periods. The “swallow workers” are employed in different activities and in different provinces: at Catamarca and La Rioja working in the olive harvest, at San Juan and Mendoza in grape and fruit trees; at Neuquén and Rio Negro they are employed at the apple and pear harvest and at Tucumán in the lime, cane, strawberry and blueberry harvest. Other activities in which they work are potatoes (Buenos Aires and Cordoba), onions (Buenos Aires, San Juan, Mendoza, Cordoba, Santiago del Estero) and corn detasseling (in the core area of the country). The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze corn detasseling work between the 2008/2009 and 2011/2012 seasons; that is, before and after complaints of "slave labor". I use in-depth interviews conducted with workers and former workers of corn detasseling; also with key informants of the industry. I also use specialized literature and news reporting. I observe and analyze the changes in working conditions and the nature of the work.

Keywords : Seasonal migrations; Detasseling corn; Santiago del Estero; Slave labor.

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