Brazil rescues 29 workers from slave‑like conditions in Bahia and Pernambuco

A joint inspection by Brazil's Ministry of Labor, the Public Labor Ministry, the Federal Defensoria Publica and the Federal Police freed 29 people who had been working under conditions comparable to slavery at three stone quarries in Bahia (Sento Sé and Casa Nova) and Pernambuco (Santa Cruz). The workers extracted stones for municipal road‑paving projects but lived in canvas barracks without drinking water, sanitation or proper meals, slept on floor mattresses, and lacked personal protective equipment. Inspectors reported that food had been stored together with toxic substances. The companies involved signed Terms of Adjusted Conduct, committing to pay nearly R$ 500 000 in severance and individual indemnities, plus R$ 30 000 and R$ 102.5 000 in collective moral damages. A related action earlier rescued nine additional workers in Pernambuco, bringing the total rescued in the operation to 38.