Shocks, pepper spray and beatings: rescued employees report punishments in accommodation in RS

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Aurora Wineries, Cooperativa Garibaldi and Salton said they were unaware of the irregularities and always acted within the law. Police action rescued more than 200 workers “in a degrading situation”. They were hired to work on the grape harvest. Images of spaces where workers were kept in Bento Gonçalves Federal Highway Police/Disclosure After being rescued by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) on Wednesday (22), employees who worked in a situation analogous to slavery in the grape harvest in Bento Gonçalves , in the Serra, began to describe the violence and deprivation they allegedly suffered. In reports to RBS TV this Friday morning (24), workers narrated situations in which they suffered beatings, electric shocks, rubber bullets and attacks with pepper spray. “Most were beaten, humiliated, several things happened here. I was raped in the bathroom, they beat me. I got there and we ate sour food. We worked too much, slave labor. There, they were in possession of weapons, threatening us. There were people who was even shot with a rubber bullet”, says a worker housed at the Darcy Pozza gym after the rescue. Another rescued worker claims that, from the room he slept in, he could hear the beating sessions of other employees. “We worked from 6 am until midnight, 1 am. When I was going to arrive to ask to leave, the Federal Police arrived, performed this operation and helped us. (I felt) a lot of fear. On my side it was every day they beat the boys there. Shock, pointy, everything on the boys”, he says. According to the MTE, the Aurora, Cooperativa Garibaldi and Salton wineries hired an administrative support services company that offered the workforce. The person in charge of this company, Pedro Augusto de Oliveira Santana, 45 years old, from Valente (BA), was arrested, but will respond for the crime in freedom because he paid bail in the amount of R$ 40,000. His lawyer Rafael Dorneles informed that he will position himself as soon as he talks with the client. The operation was carried out by the PRF, MTE and the Federal Police (PF) after three workers sought out the PRF in Caxias do Sul saying that they had fled from a lodging where they were being held against their will. At the site, the workers were found “in a degrading situation”. According to the regional manager of the MTE in Caxias do Sul, Vanius Corte, artifacts that possibly served to rape employees were seized at the site. ‘There is no way for the person to go home’, says rescued worker Wineries can be held responsible, says MTE scandalous way of treating people”, reports Corte. Debts and late payment One of the workers says that, along with his colleagues, he came from Bahia to work in the grape harvest with the promise of salaries in excess of R$3,000, in addition to accommodation and food. However, upon arriving in RS, workers faced delays in wage payments, physical violence, long working hours and the offer of spoiled food. They were also coerced to remain at the place – which was small and in poor condition – under penalty of paying a fine for breach of the employment contract. “Some said that they had received an advance, but never received payment of what was promised. On the other hand, they had this indication: ‘go there and buy it at the small market that sells you on credit’, and that market charged high prices. A bag of beans for R$ 22. The employee was always in debt and couldn’t leave without paying the bill, he didn’t receive his salary and there was this situation, of being stuck in the place because of the debt. This was one of the things that characterized slave labor, beyond this history of aggressions”, says the regional manager of the MTE. Repercussion The Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) says that the wineries that used labor analogous to slavery during the grape harvest in the Serra do Rio Grande do Sul may have to pay labor rights to the more than 200 people rescued during a police operation in Bento Gonçalves, on Wednesday (23). “The people who took this service, the people who benefited from this service, can also be held responsible. We call this subsidiary responsibility. First, the employer is responsible. If he does not pay, the people who worked in a certain winery , who provided the service there, they can charge, and we will reach that point, that winery that benefited from this work”, he says. In a note, the companies stated that they were unaware of the irregularities and had always acted within the law. Notes from Aurora Wineries Vinícola Aurora sympathizes with the workers hired by the outsourced company and reinforces that it does not condone any type of activity considered, legally, as analogous to slavery. In the seasonal period, such as the grape harvest, the company hires outsourced workers, due to the shortage of labor in the region. With this, it should be noted that Aurora transfers to the outsourced company an amount above R$ 6.5 thousand/month per worker, plus any overtime worked. In addition, each and every service provider receives quality food during the work shift, such as breakfast, lunch and dinner. The company also informs that all service providers receive training provided for in labor legislation and that there is no distinction in treatment between company employees and contracted workers. The winery reinforces that it requires all the documentation provided for in labor legislation from contracted companies. Aurora makes itself available to the authorities for any clarification. Garibaldi In view of the recent complaints that were revealed regarding the practices of the company Oliveira & Santana in the treatment of workers linked to it, Cooperativa Vinícola Garibaldi clarifies that it was unaware of the reported situation. He also informs that he had a contract with a company other than the one cited by the media. With regard to the company denounced, the contract was for the provision of truck unloading services and followed all the requirements contained in the current legislation. The same was closed. The Cooperative awaits the investigation of the facts, with the necessary clarifications, so that the appropriate measures resulting from them can be taken. Only after the elucidation of this detail will it be able to manifest itself in this respect. Right now, however, it reiterates its commitment to respect for rights – both human and labor – and repudiates any conduct that could violate these precepts. Salton The company does not have its own grape production in Serra Gaúcha, except for a few vineyards located next to its manufacturing structure, which are managed by its own team. During the harvest period, the company resorts to hiring temporary labor. These temporary workers stay in the company’s own residences, meeting all the legal criteria and housing conditions. The company still occasionally resorts to outsourcing services for unloading. In this case, the employment relationship takes place through the company hired for the purpose of supplying labor. In the act of contracting, the inherent responsibility of each party is formalized. In this format, there are 7 people outsourced by this company in each of the two shifts. These people work exclusively in unloading loads. Through the press, the company became aware of the practices and working conditions offered to employees of this service provider and promptly took the appropriate measures in relation to the established contract. Salton does not condone these practices and makes itself available to the competent bodies to collaborate with the process”. Slavery situation: space where workers stayed in Bento Gonçalves Federal Highway Police/Disclosure VIDEOS: Tudo sobre o RS

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