Brazil labor inspections rescue 84 workers from slave-like conditions

Labor inspectors in Brazil have rescued dozens of workers found in conditions analogous to slavery during separate operations in Alagoas and Rio de Janeiro.

In Alagoas, specifically in Marechal Deodoro and São Miguel dos Milagres, 17 workers were rescued from paving construction sites. Inspectors reported degrading conditions, including lack of potable water, inadequate bedding, and workers sleeping on cardboard. In Marechal Deodoro, some employees lacked formal employment records and were paid solely by production without a fixed monthly salary.

In a separate operation in Cabo Frio, 67 workers were rescued from a sugarcane mill. These individuals were brought from the Northeast and Minas Gerais regions under false promises of high earnings. They faced 15-hour workdays, delayed or inconsistent payments, and poor living conditions characterized by pest infestations, lack of hot water, and inadequate hygiene facilities. The recruitment was reportedly facilitated by intermediaries known as ‘gatos’ to bypass formal employment obligations.