Domestic slavery exploitation in Brazil

Authorities in Brazil have conducted operations to rescue elderly women from conditions described as “analogous to slavery” involving long-term domestic exploitation.

In Eusébio, a 62-year-old woman was rescued after 55 years of unpaid labor for three generations of a single family. Having arrived at the residence in 1971 at age seven, she performed domestic duties without formal education or financial autonomy. A Conduct Adjustment Agreement was established to provide severance pay, social security regularization, and housing.

In Belo Horizonte, a joint operation involving the Federal Police, the Ministry of Labor and Employment, and the Public Ministry of Labor in Minas Gerais (MPT-MG) rescued two women, aged 65 and 90, from a high-end neighborhood. The investigation, which began in March following an anonymous tip, revealed that the 90-year-old had worked for the family for approximately 75 years, while the 65-year-old had been in the residence since she was five years old.

The women were found living in a moldy dependency and sleeping in windowless rooms. Their duties included cleaning, meal preparation, and grocery shopping, often on Sundays, without wages, formal registration, or benefits like paid vacation. While the homeowners claimed the women were treated as family members, prosecutors noted they lacked access to the same property rights, education, and healthcare as the owners. Additionally, there were allegations that the family was managing government social benefits intended for the victims. Authorities are providing medical and psychological assistance, placing the women in the municipal support network and elderly care shelters, while pursuing legal compensation and labor rights.