Bom Retiro, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
Information collected via GOOGLE TRANSLATE: Three Bolivian traffickers were arrested for employing 12 workers in ‘conditions analogous to slavery. They had three apartments in the clandestine garment centre of Sao Paulo where the Bolivian workers were forced to live and work in 17 hours shifts. Some of the workers were related to the three traffickers – and some were less than 17 year of age. They received $0.50 per garment made, which earned them a monthly salary of $150. Some of the workers were recruited in Bolivia by members of their own family with the promise of housing and a better salary.
Location
Brazil · Bom Retiro, Sao Paulo, Brazil · 2010 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
Civil Police arrested the three traffickers due to violations of ‘Article 149 of the Penal Code’, which deals with subjecting workers to ‘conditions analogous to slavery’. Penalty for breaking this article is 2-8 years in prison.
Civil Police made the arrest.
Mary Tomita (Head of Precinct 3 on Violations of the Environment and Labor Relations) reported that some of the freed workers had already been granted a residence permit through a process of ‘regularization of illegal immigrants’ promoted by the federal government. This allows them the right to wok legally, and to access basic social rights. Full citizenship can be requested after 2 years.
Dept. of Environment and Labor Relations
Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don't have a verifiable source on file yet — use “Report a problem” below to add one.