Operation rescued workers in Rio Grande do Sul| Photo: Disclosure/MPT

An operation by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) rescued 207 workers who were in a situation similar to slavery in Bento Gonçalves, in Rio Grande do Sul. The person in charge of the company, which kept these workers in these conditions, was even arrested, but will answer for the crime in freedom because he paid bail in the amount of R$ 40,000.

Of the total rescued, 194 returned to Bahia, their state of origin this Friday (24). Another four Bahians preferred to remain in RS. Nine are from Rio Grande do Sul and have already returned to their hometowns.

An agreement between the company and the workers was closed by the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) on Friday night. Each of them received, for now, R$ 500 to make the trip. The total amount of compensation must be paid by next Tuesday (28), by bank deposit.

To the investigators, workers reported facing delays in wage payments, physical violence, long working hours and the offer of spoiled food. They also said that they were coerced into remaining at the site under penalty of paying a fine for breach of the employment contract.

The Ministry of Labor also says that it will individually analyze the labor rights of each worker in order to seek the appropriate compensation. In a note, the company’s defense stated that the “serious facts reported by the labor inspectorate will be clarified in a timely manner, during the course of the judicial process”.