Workers rescued from conditions similar to slavery in charcoal factories in Montes Claros

According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), they were located after a tip. Upon arriving at the site, the Montes Claros Labor Inspectors discovered the existence of 12 ovens that were operating without any support structure.

"There was no drinking water, bathroom, shelter or place to eat. The workers drank water taken from home in plastic bottles, did their physiological needs in the bush and ate sitting on the ground or on logs, under trees, heating their lunches in improvised cans or over hot coals."

Also according to the MTE, the workers did not have protective equipment and wore ordinary clothes, holey shoes and damaged gloves. Exposed to the smoke and heat of the ovens, their faces, hands and arms were covered in soot.

According to the ministry, "They were completely informal, without registration, without a medical examination and without FGTS, receiving R$100 per day worked, without pay for Sundays and holidays."

The auditors notified the person responsible for the charcoal plants to stop activities, register the workers and pay the severance pay and FGTS, calculated by the inspectorate at around R$ 22 thousand, within 10 days.

Also according to the MTE, "Rescued workers are entitled to six installments of the Rescued Worker's Unemployment Insurance. The employer will be fined for the infractions found, and the action report will be forwarded to the Public Ministry of Labor and other competent bodies."

There is a specific channel for reporting work similar to slavery: the Ipê System, available on the internet. The complainant does not need to identify himself. Simply access the system and enter as much information as possible.

The idea is that inspections can, based on this information, analyze whether the case actually constitutes work similar to slavery and carry out on-site checks.