The mega operation rescued 337 workers from slavery in at least 15 states. According to the Federal Police, at least 149 of those rescued were also victims of human trafficking.

The operation saved 337 workers in slavery-like conditions – Photo: DIVULGAÇÃO/MPT

Five children and teenagers and four migrants of Paraguayan and Venezuelan nationality were also rescued. The operation began on July 4 and is still ongoing. Almost 50 inspection teams were directly involved in the inspections that took place in 22 states and the Federal District during this month.

The states of Goiás and Minas Gerais had the most rescues in a joint operation in July. The economic activities with the most rescues in rural areas were harvesting services in general, coffee growing, and beef cattle raising.

In the cities, attention was paid to rescue in the narcological dispensary and to cases of domestic labor. Six domestic workers were rescued in five states.

Tests were performed at AC, AL, AM, BA, CE, DF, ES, GO, MA, MS, MG, MT, PB, PE, PA, PI, PR, RJ, RO, RS, SC, TO and SP.

Employers caught subordinating workers to these conditions have been notified of the termination of activities and formalization of the employment relationship of these people, as well as the payment of wages and severance pay due to workers, totaling more than 3.8 million Brazilian reais. In addition, they may be liable for individual and collective moral damages, administrative fines and criminal claims.

Each of the rescued workers also received three special unemployment insurance premiums for rescued workers, equal to one minimum wage each.

For other violations of labor law, the tax office will draw up about 669 acts of violations, including slave labor, child labor, lack of registration in the work book, and non-compliance with labor and safety standards at work.

The criminal offenses committed will also be investigated, as well as the authorship of the perpetrators, to ensure that those who profited from the exploitation of the rescued are held accountable.