The manipulation of working hours in the reproduction of sugarcane agro-industrial capital and the super-exploitation of labour

Abstract

This paper aims to give visibility to the manipulation of working hours in the reproduction of sugarcane agro-industrial capital, particularly in the producing regions of the state of São Paulo. Methodologically, we conducted a documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with workers involved in the sugarcane production process. Based on Ruy Mauro Marini's category of super-exploitation of labor and Marxian theory, our goal is to illustrate that working hours have been strategically organized to extend and intensify labor activities in sugarcane agro-industrial production. This strategic organization ultimately facilitates the extraction of surplus value. The repercussions of this organizational strategy include an increased exposure of workers to risks and health issues, as evidenced by a rise in repetitive strain injuries, workplace accidents, and elevated rates of illness, among others consequences.