Slave-like labor in Brazil: what it is and how to report it
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Exhausting hours, degrading conditions, debt bondage and forced labor amount to slave-like work (Criminal Code art. 149). How to report it through the Ipê system.
Slave-like labor does not require chains. Under art. 149 of Brazil's Criminal Code, it involves forced labor, exhausting hours, degrading conditions or restricting movement because of a debt to the employer. Reports can be anonymous through the Ministry of Labor's Ipê system, and rescued workers are entitled to three installments of unemployment insurance.
Quick summary
- Four forms: forced labor, exhausting hours, degrading conditions and debt bondage.
- Signs: documents withheld, debts at the company store, housing without bathrooms or drinking water, armed surveillance.
- Reporting: the Ipê system (ipe.sit.trabalho.gov.br), Disque 100 or the Labor Prosecution Office (MPT).
- Rescued workers: receive their labor entitlements and 3 unemployment insurance installments of one minimum wage.
- Crime: 2 to 8 years of imprisonment, plus a fine.
How to recognize it
- Exhausting hours: a pace and duration that wear the worker out and put health at risk.
- Degrading conditions: poor housing, no drinking water, inadequate food, no bathrooms or protective equipment.
- Debt bondage: the worker "owes" for travel, food or tools and cannot leave.
- Withholding: documents, wages or personal belongings kept to prevent leaving.
What happens after a report
The Special Mobile Inspection Group, made up of labor inspectors, labor prosecutors and police, carries out the inspection. If confirmed, workers are removed from the site, receive their severance and are referred for support. The employer may be added to the public register of employers caught using slave labor, known as the "dirty list".
Frequently asked questions
Can I report without identifying myself?
Yes. The Ipê system accepts anonymous reports.
Is a 14-hour workday slave labor?
It can be, if the duration and pace are exhausting and endanger health. Inspectors assess each case.
Do rescued workers receive anything?
Yes: all labor entitlements for the period and 3 installments of special unemployment insurance (Law 7,998/1990, art. 2-C).
Read more in this series
- How to report labor violations
- Unemployment insurance 2026
- Working without a signed work card
- Index: complete guide to labor rights
Topic: this guide is part of Harassment, discrimination and privacy at work, with all the guides on the subject.
Official sources consulted
Informational content, updated in October 2026. This does not replace an individual analysis of your case.
Informational content produced by the Human Case editorial team based on official public sources. Does not replace individual advice.
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