The speech, however, was strongly demanding and critical of the government.
“Despite its efforts, the Brazilian State remains ineffective in this fight. Currently, inspections to combat slave labor are suspended”, they denounce. “This fact worries us”, they warned, pointing to the risks of coffee and sugarcane harvests. Both are “known for their high rates of slave labor crimes.”
According to Leonardo Sakamoto’s column on UOL, allegations of slave-like work have not been investigated since January, due to protests from labor inspectors. They demand that the federal government fulfill an agreement signed with the category in 2016. Delay in resolving the impasse could lead to “catastrophic” consequences in the assessment of civil society.
“We demand that the State reestablish inspections to combat slave labor and adopt more public policies to confront structural racism and regional and social inequalities,” said the entities at the UN.
“More technological, environmental, cultural and economic development is needed for the places of origin of the victims of this crime”, they argue, indicating as an immediate need the regulation of the amendment that provides for the expropriation of property against slave labor in Brazil.
The message also went to foreign governments and their multinationals.
