Brazil Rescues 479 Workers from Slave-Like Conditions in National Operation

A national task force coordinated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment rescued 479 workers from conditions analogous to slavery during August. The operation, known as Operação Resgate VI, involved 231 inspection actions across 19 Brazilian states. The force included the Public Ministry of Labor, the Federal Public Ministry, the Public Defender's Office of the Union, and the Federal Police. Among those rescued were 75 women, 13 children and adolescents, and between 66 and 68 migrants from countries including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Venezuela, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau. Minas Gerais saw the highest number of rescues with 208 workers, followed by São Paulo, Amazonas, Piauí, and Rio Grande do Norte. The Southeast region accounted for the largest share of rescues at 55.7 percent. Most cases occurred in rural areas, specifically in the cultivation of coffee, onions, and potatoes, though construction was the most common urban sector for rescues. In one specific case in Mato Grosso, inspectors found workers in a wooden structure next to a corral with rodent feces, no functional toilet, and dangerous electrical wiring. In São Paulo, a 51 year old domestic worker was rescued after working for the same family since age 11 without formal registration. Employers were required to formalize contracts and pay severance. Estimated severance payments reach approximately 3.29 to 3.49 million reais, with additional payments for individual and collective moral damages. Authorities intend to issue 1,836 infraction notices for issues including child labor and safety violations. One source noted that this operation contributes to a total of 70,000 people rescued from slavery in Brazil since 1995.