Sao Paulo, Brazil, Brazil
The Brazilian government rescued 15 workers from a factory sub-contracted by AHA, the company responsible for 90% of Zara's Brazilian production. Fourteen of the workers were Bolivians and one was from Peru. One was 14. Renato Bignami, who led the investigation, said the workers – who lived on the premises – worked 12-hour shifts in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. They were not allowed to leave the premises. One victim told the TV channel A Liga that the labour component of a pair of Zara jeans selling at $126 (£76) was $1.14, which was divided between the seven people involved in the process. The workers earned between $156 and $290 a month. The minimum wage in Brazil is $344.
Location
Brazil · Sao Paulo, Brazil · 2011 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
The Brazilian government has charged Inditex with 52 counts of slavery, and is investigating Zara corporation. After research, the government believes that there are least 30 more sweatshops in Brazil producing Zara products.
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.