Elderly individual liberated from conditions akin to slavery in a coal mine in Jequitinhonha
The Labor Audit Office (AFT), under the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), conducted an inspection last Friday in São Gonçalo do Rio Preto, Minas Gerais, rescuing eight workers from conditions akin to slavery at a charcoal plant in the Jequitinhonha region. Among those rescued was a 74-year-old man.
The operation, which targeted a eucalyptus farm and charcoal plant in the rural area of the 3,000-inhabitant municipality, revealed deplorable conditions for the workers. They lacked access to clean water, toilets, and accommodations. The inspection also found inadequate food provisions and no Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).
Upon removal, the workers will receive unemployment insurance, and the employer has ten days to settle outstanding labor fees, as stated by the AFT. The inspection was coordinated by auditor-fiscal Hélio Ferreira and Marcos Martins, the head of the inspection at the Regional Labor Office of Montes Claros. The Military Police (PM) provided support during this operation.
While there is no available information regarding an ongoing investigation into slavery-like conditions in the area, readers may be interested to know that the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and organizations focusing on labor rights and anti-slavery initiatives could be potential sources for further details.
The Labor Audit Office (AFT) has emphasized the importance of workplace wellness and health-and-wellness, especially for aging workers, following the rescue of a 74-year-old man from deplorable conditions at a charcoal plant in São Gonçalo do Rio Preto. This event has highlighted the need for science-based strategies to improve the safety and welfare of workers in the Jequitinhonha region.
