B.4. The procedure carried out by the Ministry of Labor in relation to the visit
in 2000
179. On May 30, 2000, based on the inspection report of March 15, 2000, the Labor Public
Prosecutor filed a public civil action before the labor judge against the owner of Hacienda
Brasil Verde, João Luiz Quagliato.194 The Prosecutor underscored that it could be concluded
that: (i) Hacienda Brasil Verde kept workers “under a private prison system”; (ii) “the work
[was] characterized by the system of slavery,” and (iii) the situation was aggravated because
those involved were illiterate rural works, without any education, who had been subjected
“to degrading living conditions.”195
180. Based on the above, the Labor Public Prosecutor concluded that João Luiz Quagliato
must “halt slave labor, ceasing forced labor and the prison regime, and never again practice
slave labor, because this was a crime and a violation of freedom of work.”196
181. On June 9, 2000, the Conciliation and Prosecution Board of Conceição do Araguaia
summoned the Labor Public Prosecutor and João Luiz Quagliato to a hearing concerning the
charges filed by the Public Prosecution Service,197 On July 20, 2000, the hearing was held, in
the course of which João Luiz Quagliato undertook:
Not to admit or permit the work of employees under a slavery regime, at the risk of a fine of
10,000 UFIR for each worker, white or black, found in that situation; to provide lodging, sanitary
facilities, potable water, and accommodation that was decent for people […] at the risk of a fine
of 500 UFIR for non-compliance […]; not to request employees to sign blank documents of any
kind, at the risk of a fine of 100 UFIR for any document found in this condition.198
182. On August 14, 2000, the Labor Public Prosecutor asked the Pará Regional Labor
Delegation to determine whether João Luiz Quagliato was complying with the terms of the
judicial arrangement he had reached with the Labor Public Prosecutor. 199 On August 18, 2000,
the proceedings were archived.200
183. On June 21, 2001, the Labor Public Prosecution Service forwarded to the Assistant
Prosecutor General of the Republic a detailed report of the proceedings it had instituted in
relation to the companies belonging to the Quagliato Group, including Hacienda Brasil
Verde.201
184. From May 12 to 18, 2002, the Ministry of Labor conducted another inspection in
Xinguara, Curionópolis and Sapucaia to verify compliance with the agreements reached
between the Labor Public Prosecution Service and several rural employers.202 A visit was
made to Hacienda Brasil Verde during this inspection.203 Following the inspection, it was
concluded that the employers were complying with their commitments204 and that, as a result
of these undertakings, the direct management of the employees by the employer had
194
Public civil action of May 30, 2000 (evidence file, folio 1049).
195
Public civil action of May 30, 2000 (evidence file, folio 1052).
196
Public civil action of May 30, 2000 (evidence file, folio 1053).
197
Notifications of June 9, 2000 (evidence file, folios 5787 and 5788).
198
Arrangement reached during the hearing of July 20, 2000 (evidence file, folio 5794).
199
Communication No. 2,357/2001 of June 21, 2001 (evidence file, folio 1033).
200
Communication No. 2,357/2001 of June 21, 2001 (evidence file, folio 1033).
201
Communication No. 2,357/2001 of June 21, 2001 (evidence file, folio 1031).
202
Report of June 2002 inspection (evidence file, folio 1056).
203
Report of June 2002 inspection (evidence file, folio 1056).
204
Report of June 2002’ inspection (evidence file, folio 1062).
44