Eleven workers rescued from slave-like labor conditions

Less than one year before the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, eleven workers who were building the Olympic Village were rescued by the Public Prosecutors of Labor (MPT) and the inspection of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) on suspicion of being under slavery-like conditions.

The Village of Athletes is work under the responsibility of the consortium Ilha Pura formed by the companies Odebrecht and Carvalho Hosken. The project comprises 3,600 apartments in an area of 820 thousand square meters, which will host around 11,000 athletes that will come Rio de Janeiro. According to the company, about 18 thousand workers have worked at the worksite.

The employers, which worked for the outsourced company Global Brasil Serviços, were found in lodgings considered in degrading conditions; and, according to what was reported by workers to the Brazilian press, the company had committed to pay accommodation and reimburse air tickets, but it did not.

In a hearing on MPT-RJ company had to sign a Conduct Adjustment Declaration (TAC) in which it undertook to pay R$ 70,000 (around USD20,00.00) in grant rescission and lodge workers at a hotel. However, the company refused to sign the document committing to pay collective damages and individual compensation, so it will be present a civil action against the company.