Operation reveals that worker lived without labor rights at Simone Cabral’s residence (União Brasil)
In Além Paraíba (MG), a 61-year-old black domestic worker was rescued from conditions similar to slavery at the residence of councilor Simone Cabral (União Brasil). The operation, which began on December 2, involved the Ministry of Labor and Employment, the Public Ministry of Labor and the Federal Police.
The victim had worked for the councilor’s family for 28 years without remuneration or guaranteed labor rights. The worker stated that she never received a salary and that, for her needs, she depended on Simone, who claimed to keep the money in a bank, without providing details or access to the worker.
During her testimony, the councilor denied the accusations, claiming that the worker was considered “part of the family”. However, the inspection identified that she lived in precarious conditions, without rights to rest, leisure or social life, and was also responsible for Simone’s husband’s night care.
The inspection report highlighted the denial of labor rights and the absence of fair working conditions, including the usurpation of workers’ rest and leisure periods.
Despite almost 3 decades of service, only 3 years and 9 months of contributions to the INSS were recorded. The rights and severance pay due were calculated at more than R$640,700, with an additional agreement of R$400,000 for compensation for individual moral damages, mediated by the Public Ministry of Labor.
Contemporary slave labor
Current Brazilian legislation classifies as work analogous to slavery any forced activity – when a person is prevented from leaving their place of work – carried out under degrading conditions or exhausting working hours. Any case in which the employee is constantly monitored, in an overt manner, by the boss is also subject to reporting.
According to Conaete (National Coordination for the Eradication of Slave Labor), exhaustive working hours are any work that, due to circumstances of intensity, frequency or exhaustion, causes harm to the physical or mental health of the worker, who, being vulnerable, has his will annulled and his dignity affected. Degrading working conditions are those in which disregard for the dignity of the human person is established by the violation of the worker’s fundamental rights, especially those relating to hygiene, health, safety, housing, rest, food or others related to personality rights. .
Another form of contemporary slavery recognized in Brazil is debt bondage, which occurs when the employee has his movement restricted by the employer on the grounds that he must pay a certain amount of money.
With information from .
