Workers Rescued from Slave-Like Conditions at SP Sugarcane Plantation
Twenty-two workers were rescued from a sugarcane plantation in Batatais, São Paulo, after being found in slave-like conditions. They were forced to plant sugarcane from moving trucks, and their accommodations lacked basic hygiene and privacy. Following intervention by the Public Ministry of Labor, the employer agreed to pay each worker R$5,000 in compensation and signed a Conduct Adjustment Term to regularize employment practices.
Twenty-two workers were rescued from a sugarcane plantation in Batatais, São Paulo, after the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) determined they were working in slave-like conditions. The operation, conducted between March 16 and 19, revealed severe irregularities, including workers being forced to plant sugarcane from moving trucks, posing a serious risk of falling.
Beyond the dangerous work environment, the workers' living conditions were deplorable. The five accommodations provided by the employer in Pontal, SP, were unhygienic, lacked privacy, and had no beds or sheets, forcing workers to sleep on the floor or on improvised structures. Furthermore, gas cylinders were improperly stored in kitchens without ventilation, creating additional safety hazards.
In response to these grave violations, the employer agreed to sign a Conduct Adjustment Term (TAC) to regularize employment practices. The agreement includes the payment of R$180,000 in severance and individual moral damages, with each of the 22 rescued workers receiving R$5,000. Failure to comply with the terms of the agreement will result in a fine of R$5,000 for each infraction.