Rio Negro drivers allege labor violations transporting Vale workers

Drivers for Rio Negro Transportes e Turismo, a company responsible for transporting employees to Vale mining sites in the Vargem Grande Complex, are reporting labor violations. Workers claim the company is failing to respect the mandatory 11-hour rest period between shifts required by Brazilian labor law (CLT).

Drivers operating routes between Ouro Preto and the mines in Nova Lima and Itabirito report traveling approximately 300 kilometers per day. The schedule often requires drivers to begin work as early as 3:50 AM, with shifts frequently extending until 8:20 PM. Some drivers reported receiving only a few hours of sleep between shifts, describing the workload as unsustainable by the third consecutive night of work.

Employees also expressed frustration regarding a lack of communication with management, stating that supervisors have failed to address concerns or fulfill promises regarding schedule adjustments.