Fake rehabilitation clinic submits drug addicts to slave labor, says Attorney

The Labor Attorney General’s Office released this Thursday (28) the rescue of 15 workers in conditions analogous to slavery in Patos de Minas (MG). According to the agency, the company, a manufacturer of plaster parts, claimed to be a recovery clinic for drug and alcohol users, which would use the work as part of the treatment.

According to the coordinator of the action, Humberto Monteiro Camasmie, the victims were recruited in other municipalities, in peripheral neighborhoods and at night. Representatives of the supposed therapeutic community would promise employment and rehabilitation to homeless people, without family ties and in a situation of psychosocial vulnerability, due to alcohol and drug abuse.

Also according to the Prosecutor’s Office, there was a promise of payment to those who met goals that were difficult to achieve, reason for aggression and threats. The alleged clinic would also have no medical, psychological, nursing staff or therapeutic plan.

According to Camasmie, who is the labor inspector, José Augusto Santos Neto introduced himself as the person in charge of the Renascer Missionary Clinic during the inspection. Sought after, lawyer Carlos Roberto Silva Júnior, from Viana Lima Advogados, did not respond until the publication of this report.

Although Renascer is in the name of the establishment, the church of the same name reported that it is not linked to any of those involved. wanted by Sheet, the leadership of Renascer says that it has no connection with the place and that its assistance works are all located in São Paulo. The institution says it will take appropriate legal measures to stop the accused from using the name Renascer.

The action, which began on July 14 and started with the complaint of a victim, was part of the second edition of Operação Resgate, which rescued 338 workers in a situation similar to slavery in July.

The operation at the fake clinic was conducted by the SIT (Subsecretariat for Labor Inspection) of the Ministry of Labor and Welfare, the MPT (Public Ministry of Labor) and the PRF (Federal Highway Police).

Camasmie says that the labor tax audit will issue a notice of infraction and that the inspection report will be forwarded to Organs responsible bodies, which will possibly file criminal proceedings. The victims are receiving assistance from Icasu (Christian Institution of Social Assistance of Uberlândia) and the Federal University of Uberlândia.​

Religious approach, physical assaults and threats

​According to the investigation, there was a religious contour in the approach. “Always this team that recruits is accompanied by someone who presents himself as a pastor, as someone from a church, and somehow these homeless people expect a better possibility of life”, says the auditor.

The victims, according to him, were immediately taken to Patos de Minas, where they had no means of communication to keep in touch with friends and family. “They ended up being prevented from breaking that bond [com a empresa] due to the lack of conditions to return to their place of origin, and also began to be coerced to remain due to strong threats”, says the auditor.

Among the testimonies, there are reports of physical aggression for unfulfilled goals, says Camasmie. Physical violence would be used by the employer as a threat and coercion to comply with orders and to ensure that they did not leave the clinic.

He also claims that the work was not regularized and had risks such as exposure to plaster dust, paints and solvents, including gasoline, without protective equipment or medical examinations.

The duration of the journey would exceed the legal limits and there are reports that the workers responsible for the sales of plaster pieces could only eat if they exceeded the goals, when they would receive remuneration.

According to testimonies, bedding, towels, soaps, toothpaste and toilet paper were not provided. Cigarettes would be sold to workers.