Exploitation of indigenous people from MS on plantations in the South becomes a concern for the MPT – Cities

The Public Ministry of Labor and the Federal Public Ministry of Mato Grosso do Sul of Mato Grosso do Sul expressed concern about the conditions of indigenous workers from Mato Grosso do Sul on apple plantations in the south of the country, mainly in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

The bodies issued a recommendation to combat the exploitation of these workers “in order to ensure a fair, safe working environment free from conditions analogous to slavery”.

According to the Public Ministry, for ten years the institution has been monitoring the hiring of indigenous workers who are forced to work in situations similar to slavery and who are taken from Mato Grosso do Sul to the South region.

According to the MPT, the new recommendation directs companies to immediately abolish the payment of illegal “community taxes” to indigenous leaders, a practice to entice workers under false pretenses of benefits to the indigenous community. Furthermore, it is required that all hiring be carried out directly by companies, eliminating the role of “leaders”, who frequently manipulate and exploit workers, often in vulnerable situations.

“As a result, workers’ remuneration will not be protected in the face of such exploitative practices, which prevents the free availability of the use of their salary earnings in its entirety. This situation violates the principle of salary intangibility and irreducibility, essential foundations for protection of labor rights”, said Labor Attorney Jeferson Pereira, member of the monitoring group formed by a partnership between MPT, Government of Mato Grosso do Sul, Institute of Human Rights (IDH), State Commission for the Eradication of Slave Labor (Coetrae) and Indigenous Workers Collective.

Also according to the MPT, some leaders of indigenous villages charge contracting companies a “community fee” of R$20 to R$30 per worker to authorize their travel. These fees are deposited into the leaders’ personal accounts.

Therefore, the new recommendation guides the mandatory payment of salaries directly to workers’ bank accounts. Companies must also adjust production targets to reasonable levels and ensure safe transportation, with the presence of two drivers per vehicle to prevent accidents over long distances.

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