On 16 October, Brazil’s government published a Ministerial ruling relaxing how it defines ‘modern slave labor’ practices. Organizations intent on defending vulnerable exploited workers have called it yet another measure by the Temer government as it continues to distance itself from combatting slave labor. The ILO deplores what it sees as a ‘backward step’ by Brazil on the issue.
Published in the Official Journal (Diário Oficial da União) the new definition of ‘forced labor’ adds a third condition to the two previous criteria. So in addition to ‘exhausting working day’ and ‘degrading labor conditions’ is added the necessity of ‘deprivation of the right to come and go.’ Going forward, all three conditions must be set for a practice to be considered as ‘crime of work analogous to slave labor’ as established by the Penal Code. For the Pastoral Land Commission that defends
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