[REVISION HISTORY]

Brazil forced‑labour crackdown and legislative updates

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-10 09:48 UTC → 2026-09-11 20:49 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Coordinated inspections by Brazil’s Ministry of Labor and partner agencies have uncovered forced‑labour conditions across farms, construction sites, mines, markets, and domestic households. Recent operations have expanded the scope of rescues, including 35 sugarcane workers in São Paulo, 69 people from construction and mining sites in Bahia, and 35 workers from a cotton farm in Mato Grosso. In Sergipe, 62 children and adolescents were removed from city markets. In Cotia, authorities recently rescued two men from a farm in Caucaia do Alto after years of degrading conditions. The victims, aged 40 and 59, faced negligible wages and an absence of formal employment ties. Local social assistance through CREAS is providing psychological support and help with civil documentation to facilitate reintegration. Long-term data from Minas Gerais highlights the scale of the issue; between 2013 and 2026, the Regional Superintendency of Labor rescued 5,651 people from conditions analogous to slavery. ~~During this period, inspectors identified 7,731 cases of slave-like labor and 3,676 victims of human trafficking.~~ In 2026 alone, 416 workers have been rescued in the state. ~~Companies found guilty are placed on a public list for two years and face administrative fines.~~ In August 2026, the nationwide ‘Operação Resgate VI’ resulted in the rescue of 479 workers across 231 inspections in sectors such as construction and coffee, onion, and potato farming. Minas Gerais recorded the highest number of rescues in this operation, with 208 victims. The rescued group included 75 women, 13 children and adolescents, and 66 foreign nationals from countries including Argentina, Venezuela, and Senegal. During ‘Operação Resgate VI’, authorities identified abuses such as exhaustive workdays, lack of formal contracts, inadequate housing, and absence of potable water or protective equipment. In Paraíba, 20 workers were rescued from street paving projects. Employers were notified to regularize labor ties and pay estimated labor liabilities exceeding R$ 1.4 million. Legislative efforts have also advanced. The Senate approved PL 5760/2023 to protect rescued workers with social security and unemployment benefits, while the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to prohibit the import and sale of products made with forced or child labour.

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