Officials freed 532 people from slavery-like conditions in Brazil’s broadest anti-slavery move. Named “Rescue 3,” the operation happened in August.
It covered 131 towns in 23 states. Teams conducted 222 checks. They rescued 441 men and 91 women.
Among them were six kids and ten domestic workers, including a 90-year-old.
Labor Ministry staff led the operation. They teamed up with federal agents, prosecutors, and public defenders.
Although not the most significant number, the operation stands out for its reach and the job types inspected.
Labor Minister Luiz Marinho spoke at a press conference. He emphasized the issue’s urgency.
He said this harms people and risks Brazil’s trading image. Society must stand against such practices, he added.
Coffee farming had the highest victim count at 98. Garlic farming followed closely with 97. Since 1995, Brazil has acknowledged forced labor as an issue to the United Nations.
Since then, over 61,700 people have been freed. “Rescue 3” is unique because it targets both cities and rural areas.
Forced labor has been a problem in Brazil for decades. In 1995, the country admitted the issue to the United Nations.
Various agencies have worked to free people from such conditions. Over 61,700 individuals have been rescued since that admission.
Previous operations mainly focused on rural areas. Farms and plantations were common sites of exploitation.
“Rescue 3” expanded the scope to include cities too. This operation is different because it looks at many kinds of work.
This is not the first time coffee and garlic farming has had high victim counts. Public awareness is growing, and officials hope to reduce this practice further.