Slave-like labor a persistent scourge in Brazil, despite advanced laws

Modern slavery in Brazil is not confined to rural backwaters or informal workshops. It reaches into billion-dollar corporations, banks and even public administration, according to a new study by legal data platform Predictus. 

Between 2015 and 2025, Brazilian courts registered 20,414 lawsuits related to conditions analogous to slavery — an average of more than five new cases a day. The overwhelming majority (96.5%) described full-fledged slave-like labor, not minor infractions.

The volume of cases peaked in 2019, with 4,827 suits, just before pandemic restrictions curtailed inspections. In total, proceedings during the decade moved BRL 7.06 billion (USD 1.32 billion), underscoring that this is not only a humanitarian crisis but also a financial one.