Slave work on the rise in ethanol producing states

Goiás and Alagoas are the leading states when it comes to operations to rescue people working under slave-like conditions, according to a report by the Division for the Eradication of Slave Work of the Ministry of Labor. In 2008, 867 workers were rescued in Goiás and 656 in Alagoas, accounting for 40% of the total.
According to Giuliana Cambauva Cassiano, division chief of the ministry, the expansion of ethanol production is directly related to the problem, since most of the rescued workers were employed in sugar cane producing properties.
- Due to the expansion in the consumption and in the exports of ethanol, Goiás and Alagoas, two major producers of sugar cane, will be closely inspected in 2008. Unfortunately, the situation is very serious in these states – said the expert.

The numbers were made public on Thursday (13) during a public hearing promoted by the Subcommittee on the Fight Against Slave Work, presided over by senator José Nery (PSOL-PA) and linked to the Committee on Human Rights and Participative Legislation (CDH). During her presentation, Giuliana Cassiano highlighted the high incidence of degrading work in rural properties of Para and Mato Grosso states, where 592 and 407 workers, respectively, were rescued. (Agência Senado)