BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES SLAVE LABOR
The Brazilian Government will set up, in June, an executive group
to fight slave labor in Brazil. The decision, announced late in May by
the minister of Labor, Paulo Paiva, at a public audience promoted by
the Commissions of Minorities, Labor, Agriculture, and Human Rights of
the Chamber of Deputies, shows that the government has finally
surrendered to the evidence of the existence of this kind of labor in
Brazil. A report issued by the Land Pastoral Commission (CPT) called
''Conflicts in Rural Areas - Brazil 1994'' points out the growth of
slave labor in Brazil, including the exploitation of Indian labor.
This kind of crime, which was being constantly denounced by social
movements and leftist parties, used to be officially regarded as an
exaggeration of the actual situation. It was the society, however,
that once again took concrete steps against such practice: through
the National Forum Against Violence, it is launching the National
Campaign against slave labor.
For over three years, CIMI has been denouncing the use of Indian
slave labor. According to the entity, the sugarcane industry in Mato
Grosso at one point relied on the slave and semislave labor of 7
thousand Indians belonging to the Guarani Kaoiwa, Terena, and Guarani
Nhandeva peoples. Among them there were children who earned salaries
corresponding to 50-60% of those received by the adults. In 1993,
repeated denunciations from CPT and CIMI led that state to set up a
Permanent Commission for Investigating and Inspecting Labor Conditions
in Charcoal Kilns and Distilleries in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul,
which is made up of 11 state secretariats and agencies, 16
nongovernment organizations and also CPT, CIMI and the State
Commission for the Defense of Human Rights.
The inspection carried out in plants and charcoal kilns has become
more intense and, as a result, two police investigations have been
opened. In spite of all this effort, labor relations remain below
human standards. The Indians are fighting for labor rights, earn
terribly low salaries in relation to the rest of the country and, in
most cases. work under unsafe conditions. Because they are paid
according to their production, they work over 12 hours a day without
any break for lunch. Social movements expect the executive group to do
more than simply recognize that the crime actually exists.
Brasilia, June 8th, 1995
Indianist Missionary Council - CIMI