Contemporary Slavery in Brazil

Accordingly to the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), 204 events of slave work were recorded in Brazil during 2010, involving 4163 workers in 20 states.

The main mechanism of enslavement in Brazil is through debt - the physical immobilization of workers on estates until they can pay off debts, which are often incurred through fraud. Workers from areas hit by recession are enticed into verbal contracts, and then loaded into trucks which transport them thousands of miles to work in...
more »

Accordingly to the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT), 204 events of slave work were recorded in Brazil during 2010, involving 4163 workers in 20 states.

The main mechanism of enslavement in Brazil is through debt - the physical immobilization of workers on estates until they can pay off debts, which are often incurred through fraud. Workers from areas hit by recession are enticed into verbal contracts, and then loaded into trucks which transport them thousands of miles to work in dangerous conditions. On arrival the attractive wage rates promised to them are reduced, and then forfeited in order to pay for transport costs, food and working tools. As time passes, the workers' debts become greater and greater so that they have no possibility of leaving. Slave work in Amazon for clearing the forest is usually linked to cattle raising.

We document contemporary slavery in Brazil on a regular basis and have the reliable sources and contacts for updating and deepening this story anytime.
« less