The MPT (Ministério Público do Trabalho) has received at least 138 complaints of electoral harassment in 21 states and the Federal District since the beginning of this year’s campaign. The partial balance was made this Monday (10).
The South region leads the national ranking with almost half of the cases across the country. According to the MPT, the number of complaints in Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina has reached 60, which corresponds to 43% of the total.
The Southeast comes in second place, with 33 records, followed by the Northeast (22), Midwest (13) and North (10). The ranking does not take into account, however, the states of Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Amapá and Roraima because the MPT regional offices did not provide the data.
Rio Grande do Sul appears in first place on the list, with 26 records. The state is followed by São Paulo, with 23. Paraná ranks third in number of complaints, with 18 cases, and Santa Catarina is fourth, with 16.
The Public Ministry of Labor states that the complaints system only divides the type of harassment between moral and sexual, and that, therefore, it has had difficulties to follow the total number of records in real time. The MPT confirms, however, that the number of complaints rose significantly after the first round.
One of the most repercussions in Rio Grande do Sul was that of the agricultural implements company Stara, which released a statement on Monday (3) threatening to cut its business if former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) wins the elections. The case was highlighted by the Panel SA column
In a video released later, the president of Stara, Átila Trennepohl, stated that the letter only points to a revision of the company’s projections.
The Labor Prosecutor’s Office in the Municipality of Passo Fundo (RS) states, however, that it had already received complaints of attempts at electoral coercion, including through audio, in September. On Friday (7), the MPT filed a public civil action against the company and asked the Court to pay R$ 10 million for collective moral damage.
Another case investigated by the MPT is that of the civil construction company from Paraná, Concrevali, which threatened to fire 30% of its employees if former President Lula emerged victorious in the second round. Sought by the SA Panel, the company says that some of its partners broke contracts after the result of the first round. They state, however, that there is no intention to intimidate their employees.
A hearing between the company and the Public Ministry is scheduled for this Tuesday (11).
The increase in reports of threats and attempts to buy votes led the institution to release a technical note on Friday (7) to guide labor prosecutors. The document was prepared by the Coordination for the Promotion of Equal Opportunities.
The text recommends that reported companies be prohibited from threatening or embarrassing the employee, in addition to promising money or any other advantage to gain his support in favor of a candidate.
The MPT also asks that employers do not promote political demonstrations in the workplace or make reference to candidates in uniforms or other work instruments.
Finally, the coordinator says that businessmen must commit themselves not to prevent employees from voting. Furthermore, they cannot demand that they replace the hours worked due to “absence resulting from participation in the electoral process”.
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