Peruvian arrested for slave labor in São Paulo

A Peruvian man, owner of a sewing workshop in the city of São Paulo, was taken to jail after being caught in flagrante delicto. He was keeping other Peruvians working in slavery-like conditions. Seventeen laborers were rescued, among whom three minors.

The rescue operation was launched on Friday (Mar. 7) by the Ministry of Labor in collaboration with the Civil Police, Public Defenders, the Secretariat of Justice and the labor department of the Public Prosecution Office. Police Commissioner César Camargo, head of the 1^st Police Station for Personal Freedom, says it was the first arrest in flagrante delicto after a joint operation was initiated to stop slave labor in São Paulo.

Apart from working from 5a.m. to 10p.m. under the constant surveillance of security cameras, the Peruvians had their documents confiscated by the workshop owner. Most of the products manufactured were subsequently used as supplies for Unique Chic, a women's fashion boutique headed in São Paulo.

The work conditions in the factory were brought to light after one of the laborers found a way to escape and reported the story to the Peruvian Consulate. Luiz Antônio Medeiros, Superintendent of the Labor Ministry in São Paulo, declared that “the factory owners recruited the workers in Peru and brought them to Brazil with false promises of employment and food […], but some of the workers earned only $10.57 a week, with no mobility whatsoever.”

Medeiros explained that it is not common to find Peruvian workers in this situation in São Paulo: “Our attention was drawn by the fact that it is the first time we found Peruvian workers in such a large number. The immigration of Peruvian laborers to São Paulo increased 21% from 2012 to 2013, much more than that of Bolivians and Paraguayans. We might be dealing with a new route for the exploitation of workers in Brazil.”

The superintendent also mentioned cases in which workers were abused so they could serve as an example for the others. “One of the workers who managed to escape was caught and beaten in front of everyone,” added Medeiros.

Public defender Fabiana Severo explained that the formal allegation made by the Peruvian worker included only the exhausting and overwhelming working hours. “Throughout the operation we’ve also become familiar with the trafficking of people and workers from [the Peruvian cities of] Arequipa, Cuzco and Puno.” She further explained that their arrival in the country was afforded by the factory owners, after which laborers had to pay back their travel costs.

According to labor inspector Marco Melchior, the Peruvians were all lodged in a house separated from their workplace. “Conditions were not extremely poor, but there were irregularities, which will be investigated,” he remarked.

An emergency Conduct Adjustment Term was signed on Monday (10) by both the Public Defender Office and Unique Chic, which agreed to pay part of the amount due to the workers, who were given “a minimum wage, two transportation vouchers per day up to Monday (17) at least, and a daily food coupon worth $8.46 – totaling around $383,” added Melchior.

Arturo Jarama, the Peruvian consul in São Paulo announced that a campaign has already been launched in Peru in an attempt to raise awareness about slave labor and prevent Peruvians from coming to Brazil under these circumstances.

State Deputy Carlos Bezerra Jr. said that a Congressional Committee of Investigation will be put together next week in the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo in order to address the issue of slave labor in Brazil. He comments that since last May a law has been in force in São Paulo according to which companies responsible for slave labor should face trial and be punished. He added, however, that no company has been prosecuted after the law was passed.

Agência Brasil has tried to contact Unique Chic, but without success.

Translated by Augusto Queiroz and Fabrício Ferreira