Five workers, including a 70-year-old man, were rescued from a situation similar to slavery during an operation to combat slave labor by the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) in the western region of Bahia.
The elderly man, who had been working without pay for 17 years, was found on a farm between the municipalities of Barreiras and São Desidério. In addition to him, four other rural workers were also being exploited in similar situations, living and working in degrading conditions, according to the survey.
The operation, carried out between the 5th and 8th of November and published this Monday (11), was coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, with support from the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), the Federal Public Defender’s Office (DPU), Secretariat of Justice and Human Rights (SJDH) of Bahia and Federal Highway Police.
According to the MPT, the 70-year-old man took care of the animals and the safety of the farm where he lived in precarious conditions. His house was without minimum hygiene and safety conditions, with holes in the walls that allowed animals, such as scorpions, to enter, and without sanitary facilities.
“At the property, there was no sanitary installation in usable conditions, which forced the worker to carry out his physiological needs in the bush and take a shower outside. The kitchen was improvised, in the outdoor area, containing a wood-burning stove and a cage for raising baby chickens, in addition to free movement of ducks, chickens and dogs”, informed the MPT in a note. The elderly person, retired due to disability, did not have access to the amount of his retirement, as the employer kept the bank card that allowed the withdrawal.
Four others rescued
In addition to the elderly man, four other workers were rescued from a eucalyptus producing farm, where they carried out cutting, separation and loading of wood. They also lived in precarious accommodation, without access to electricity and with makeshift beds. The water they consumed came from a nearby river and was stored in inappropriately reused barrels.
In addition to the housing conditions, the workers did not receive adequate training for the tasks performed, such as handling chainsaws, and did not have the necessary protective equipment. According to the MPT report, they had to acquire their own work tools, without any support from the employer.
Employer notification
After the inspection, labor inspectors notified employers, who were obliged to regularize employment contracts and pay the severance pay due. Guides were also issued so that workers can access unemployment insurance. The Bahia Department of Justice and Human Rights provided social and psychological support to the victims, referring them to medical care, social reintegration programs and support for job and income generation.
The Public Ministry of Labor is now awaiting the conclusion of administrative procedures to summon employers and, if necessary, propose the signing of a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC). If there is no agreement, legal actions may be taken to guarantee the rights of workers and the payment of compensation for moral damages.
This content was originally published in Elderly man is rescued after working 17 years without receiving a salary in Bahia on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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