Assaí Atacadista ordered to pay R$ 50,000 for labor violations

A labor court in Piracicaba, Brazil, has ordered Sendas Distribuidora S.A., the operator of Assaí Atacadista, to pay R$ 50,000 in collective moral damages. The ruling, issued by Judge Bruno Furtado Silveira, follows a civil public action filed by the Piracicaba Commerce Employees Union (Sincomerciários).

The decision addresses several allegations of labor irregularities, most notably restrictions on employees' access to bathrooms. Investigations by the Regional Center for Worker Health (Cerest) revealed that 24 out of 30 surveyed employees reported long waits to use the restroom. Specific testimonies included an employee who allegedly urinated in her clothes while working and another who was reportedly dismissed after waiting 90 minutes for authorization to leave her cash register.

Beyond bathroom restrictions, the court examined reports of psychological violence, harassment, and excessive pressure to meet goals. Approximately 25 workers claimed they were forced to perform tasks outside their official job descriptions, such as cleaning shelves and collecting shopping carts. Additionally, 20 employees reported experiencing or witnessing harassment, while 29 reported being humiliated by supervisors in front of customers.

Sendas Distribuidora denied the allegations, stating that their procedures were intended to organize staff replacements rather than prevent bathroom use. The company has indicated it is conducting an internal investigation and is evaluating legal measures to appeal the decision.