Elderly couple rescued after 20 years of forced labor in Paraná

On Wednesday, March 10, labor inspectors from the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MTE) rescued an 84‑year‑old man and his 66‑year‑old wife from a farm in the rural locality of Combrão, near Guarapuava, Paraná. For about two decades the couple lived in an old wooden storage shed (paiol) that had been improvised into a dwelling, with an external bathroom and shower, no running water, and makeshift electricity. They worked on the property without any formal employment contract, received wages below the regional minimum, and were denied basic labor rights such as paid leave, vacations and the thirteenth‑month salary. The inspection documented 14 irregularities, including unsafe structural conditions, risk of fire or collapse, lack of protective equipment, and exposure to poisonous animals.

The authorities interdicted the unsafe structures and transferred the couple to the home of one of their children, where they will receive social assistance. The case highlights ongoing violations of Brazil’s labor laws and the use of conditions analogous to slavery in rural settings.