By FRANCISCO ALANO*
Ricardo Faria: Egg billionaire criticizes Bolsa Família and pays salaries 20 times lower in Brazil
On June 17, 2025, we were surprised by an interview with Ricardo Faria, published by the newspaper Folha de S. Paul, in which he states, among other things, “that hiring in Brazil is a disaster because people are addicted to Bolsa Família”.
According to him, the holding company Global Egss, owned by him, headquartered in Luxembourg, produces around 13 billion eggs per year, through the companies Granja Faria (Brazil), Hevo Group (Spain) and the recently acquired Hillandale Farms (USA).
He stated that he buys a company per month and finances candidates considered liberal such as Jair Bolsonaro (PL), Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), Kim Kataguiri (União Brasil) and Martel Van Hattem (Novo-RS).
He stated that he pays his company's workers in the United States to pack eggs US$20 (R$110,00) per hour. This amounts to US$1.100 (R$6.050,00) per week and US$5.000 (R$26.000,00) per month. Eighty percent of the company's business is outside Brazil and its tax residence is in Uruguay. Finally, he complained that the tax burden in Brazil is high, interest rates are high and there is a lot of bureaucracy affecting companies.
Reactions to Ricardo Farias’ interview were immediate and forceful.
According to data published on social media, Granja Faria pays a production operator an average salary of R$1.670,00 or R$48,00 net per day, to handle birds, collect eggs and clean the site, also requiring availability to live on the farm and experience in the poultry farming industry.
Influencer Felipe Neto commented on social media that in addition to being a miserable salary, lower than the national average for the same job, he also wants the person to abandon their own family, go live on a farm and spend all day collecting eggs and handling chickens to receive an average of R$1.670,00 per month.
The problems in Ricardo Faria's companies are not limited to low pay. According to the newspaper The Globe, he was the target, in 2023, of an investigation by the Public Ministry of Labor of Piauí, for irregularities in employment contracts, alleged lack of payment of salaries and benefits. There are at least 17 other labor lawsuits in the Regional Labor Court of the state.
In the lawsuits, the authors point out irregularities in the termination of employment contracts, payment of overtime, payment of severance pay, remuneration and payment of compensation and benefits. One of the authors requests compensation for moral damages and moral harassment.
Furthermore, Ricardo Faria is the target of labor lawsuits in other states, especially in Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Paraná and Maranhão.
This mercenary, better known as the "mongrel syndrome", pays an American worker almost twenty times more than a Brazilian worker and complains that Brazilian workers are addicted to the Bolsa Família program. We know that the problem is not the lack of labor or the Bolsa Família program, but rather what the company proposes to pay its workers.
By declaring that his tax residence is in Uruguay, his company's headquarters are in Luxembourg and 80% of his egg production is outside Brazil, he clearly demonstrates his commitment to our country. Much of his financial activity and business dealings appear to be in tax havens, certainly to benefit from tax exemptions and tax evasion.
The businessman debuted in 2024, on the list of Forbes Magazine, in 21st position, with assets of 17,45 billion reais.
This guy is a billionaire. If he reduced his annual profit distribution by a few million, he could significantly increase the salaries of all these people and still provide a decent life for all of them.
Only the indignation and unity of all Brazilians can change this situation of worker exploitation.
*Francisco Alano is president of the Federation of Commerce Workers in the State of Santa Catarina.
the earth is round there is thanks to our readers and supporters.
Help us keep this idea going.
CONTRIBUTE
