20 Workers Rescued from Slave-Like Conditions in Bahia, Brazil

Twenty workers have been rescued from conditions analogous to slavery in the cities of Casa Nova and Sento Sé, located in the northern region of Bahia, Brazil. The operations took place between June 30 and July 8, with details only released by the Ministry of Labor and Employment's Secretariat of Labor Inspection (SIT) on Monday, July 13. According to the SIT, the victims were engaged in public road paving projects and were housed in unsanitary accommodations. In Casa Nova, 13 workers were rescued; they were reportedly paid only R$13.50 per day for food and worked from 7 AM to 6 PM without access to potable water, on-site sanitation, or personal protective equipment. Their dormitory lacked beds, and 13 employees shared a single bathroom. Some workers were paid daily wages without guaranteed compensation for illness or absence. Following the inspection, the workers were freed, and the construction project was temporarily halted. The responsible company signed a Conduct Adjustment Agreement (TAC) with the Public Prosecutor's Office (MPT), committing to pay R$219.6 thousand in severance pay and moral damages. In Sento Sé, seven additional workers were rescued from similar conditions. These workers were involved in paving and quarrying operations supplying the project. Some were housed in makeshift tent structures at the quarry, lacking sanitation facilities or a place to prepare meals. None had formal employment registration, and all were paid solely based on production. The Ministry of Labor and Employment did not specify if any agreement was reached with the company in Sento Sé.