Over 200 reports of labor analogous to slavery have been filed in the interior of São Paulo over two years, primarily from regions like Presidente Prudente and Sorocaba.
The Public Labor Ministry (MPT) in Brazil has reported over 200 cases of labor akin to slavery in the interior of São Paulo between 2024 and 2025. This alarming statistic stems from data collected in five key regions, including Presidente Prudente, São José do Rio Preto, Bauru, Itapetininga, and Sorocaba. The MPT has also recorded additional legal measures during this period, such as 58 Adjustment Terms (TACs) and nine Civil Public Actions (ACPs), which shed light on the legal responses to the situation.
Particularly concerning is the rise in reported cases in Presidente Prudente, signaling a growing problem that authorities are struggling to tackle. The report emphasizes the procedural approach of the MPT where indemnifications are paid immediately via TACs, but highlights that failure to pay leads to the registration of cases as Civil Public Actions. This mechanism is intended to expedite justice for victims of labor exploitation, yet the rising figures indicate that many individuals remain vulnerable to such conditions.
In breaking down the reports by region, Sorocaba and Bauru emerged as the areas with the highest number of complaints. Sorocaba, which includes the Itapetininga area, recorded 43 cases in 2025 and 36 in 2024, showing a troubling trend in labor rights violations. This data prompts a call for governmental and societal actions to combat slavery-like conditions in labor, ensuring protection for workers and accountability for employers.
