While the colorful flowers of Ecuador radiate with love all over the world, the flower growers are accused of using a toxic mixture of pesticides to grow.
Workers are forced to work 20-hour days at 250 to 300 stems per hour. In addition to their physically demanding work, they must work near pesticides containing carcinogens and toxins.
All these bad working conditions have a negative impact on the health of flower workers. It is estimated that two-thirds of Ecuadorian flower workers suffer from work-related health problems, such as headaches, nausea, blurred vision, asthma, stillbirths, miscarriages, congenital malformations, and neurological problems.
Despite health risks, workers rarely receive health care or protective equipment.