Shoe industry in Bom Despacho is denounced by internal electoral campaign

A shoe industry, in Bom Despacho, in the Center-West of Minas, was denounced after promoting an electoral campaign within the company. The Labor Court ordered the adoption of measures to protect workers' freedom to vote and prevent electoral harassment.

The decision responds to an urgent request from the Public Ministry of Labor in Minas Gerais (MPT-MG) and was announced this Thursday (1st).

The public civil action was filed by MPT following a complaint about an electoral campaign event carried out within the company, on September 25th of this year.

According to the organization, candidates for the positions of federal deputy and state deputy participated in an activity on the factory premises, accompanied by a political authority from the municipality. The complaint was forwarded to the inspection bodies with video records.

In the action, Labor Attorney Geraldo Emediato de Souza stated that the proximity of the vote represents a risk to workers' rights.

“The MPT defends the adoption of preventive measures to protect workers against the use of the employment relationship and the business environment as an instrument of interference with their political freedom, conscience and vote”, he explained.

When granting urgent protection, Labor judge Pedro Paulo Ferreira stated that the documents presented by the MPT, including materials sent by the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais (MPMG), recommendations from the Electoral Prosecutor's Office and audiovisual records, present sufficient elements to justify immediate intervention by the Court.

Determined measures

The decision determines that the company must immediately interrupt any authorization, execution or tolerance of electoral propaganda, campaign events or political party meetings within its establishments.

The company is also prohibited from practicing or permitting conduct that could pressure, intimidate, embarrass or influence the political choice of employees.

Within 24 hours, the company must:

send a notice to workers informing them that voting is free and secret;

clarify that there is no company policy guidance;

inform that electoral harassment is prohibited and can be reported to the competent bodies;

Post posters in visible places about the freedom to vote and the prohibition of pressure or retaliation related to political choice.

Within 48 hours, you must:

carry out an internal awareness campaign about political freedom and prevention of electoral harassment;

guide managers, supervisors and supervisors on the prohibition of using management power to influence the vote of subordinates;

prove to the Court that the measures have been complied with.

In case of non-compliance, the company may be fined R$25,000 for unfulfilled obligations.