Mato Grosso cotton farm ordered to pay R$15k for expelling migrant worker
A regional labor court in Mato Grosso upheld a decision that a cotton‑processing farm must pay termination benefits and moral damages of R$15,000 to a migrant worker. The employee, recruited from Rio Grande do Norte, was suspended for refusing a mandatory training day and was forced to leave the employer‑provided housing. He spent about six hours on the BR‑070 highway without water, food or shelter before obtaining a ride to the nearest town.
The 1st Panel of the Tribunal Regional do Trabalho of Mato Grosso (TRT/MT), relator Judge Tarcísio Valente, ruled that the employer exceeded its disciplinary authority and violated the worker’s fundamental right to housing and dignity. The court recognized indirect termination and ordered payment of all accrued labor claims together with the moral‑damage compensation, rejecting the employer’s appeal that the contract allowed immediate vacating of the accommodation.
The ruling emphasizes that, even during disciplinary suspension, employers must respect ancillary obligations such as the employee’s physical and moral integrity.
Entities: Cotton mill in Dom Aquino · Cotton processing company in Dom Aquino · Defensoria Pública da União (DPU) · Employer couple in Mato Grosso · Mato Grosso cotton farm · Migrant worker from Rio Grande do Norte · Regional Labor Court of Mato Grosso (TRT/MT) · TRT/MT · Tarcísio Valente · Young woman victim of forced labor
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 1st Panel of the Regional Labor Court of Mato Grosso upheld the decision recognizing indirect termination and ordered the employer to pay termination benefits and moral damages of R$15,000. (court ruling)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Judge Tarcísio Valente explained that while suspension suspends main contractual obligations, the employer must still ensure the employee’s physical and moral integrity. (judge's explanation)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The worker was recruited from Rio Grande do Norte to work at a cotton mill in Mato Grosso. (worker recruitment)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The employer was ordered to pay R$15,000 in moral damages. (damages award)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The worker was suspended for ten days for refusing mandatory training. (disciplinary suspension)
- [● 3 SOURCES] During suspension, the employer expelled the worker from employer‑provided housing, leaving him on the side of BR‑070 for about six hours without water or food. (expulsion from housing)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The employer appealed, arguing the contract required vacating the housing and that public transport existed, but the appeal was rejected. (appeal outcome)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The court found that expelling the worker violated fundamental rights to housing and human dignity. (court finding)