Kimberly-Clark Brasil ordered to pay damages over ‘slave’ certificate

Kimberly-Clark Brasil has been ordered by the 1st Labor Court of Suzano to pay R$ 15,000 in moral damages to an outsourced technician. The ruling follows an incident during a corporate celebration held on December 6, 2024, at the company's factory in the metropolitan region of São Paulo.

During the ‘Best of 2024’ event, organized by the Environment, Health, and Safety department, the worker was presented with a certificate titled ‘1st CLT Slave’. The certificate, which featured a supervisor's signature and the company unit's stamp, was projected on a large screen during the ceremony. Photos of the moment were subsequently shared in a corporate messaging group.

Judge Juliana Ranzani ruled that the use of the term ‘slave’ exceeded the boundaries of a joke, representing public exposure and humiliation. The court noted that the term is associated with dehumanization and institutional violence. In addition to the compensation, the company was ordered to pay 10% in attorney fees. Kimberly-Clark Brasil may still appeal the decision to the Regional Labor Court of the 2nd Region (TRT-2).