During the military regime, hundreds of people who worked at the ranch known as Rancho Volkswagen, in the state of Pará, lived in degrading conditions and subject to violence.
Automobile industry
During the military regime, hundreds of people who worked at the ranch known as Rancho Volkswagen, in the state of Pará, lived in degrading conditions and subject to violence.
The German car manufacturer Volkswagen refused to pay 165 million reais (about 30 million euros) to victims of slave labor during the Brazilian dictatorship, the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT) of Brazil reported this week.
During the military regime (1964-1985), hundreds of people who worked at the ranch in Vale do Rio Cristalino, in the state of Pará, known as Rancho Volkswagen, lived in degrading conditions and were subject to violence.
According to the organization, on Wednesday the German giant “withdrew from the negotiating table” and said it had no interest in signing the agreement.
The negotiation included the payment of the equivalent of around 30 million euros, which would be used as reparations to 14 workers already identified as victims and to create a program of historical survey, identification and search of other workers who were also subject to the same treatment in that farm.
“The MPT regrets Volkswagen’s position, which goes against its commitment to the country and human rights, since it is a very serious violation that took place over 10 years with its direct participation”, he said. the organization in a statement.
According to MPT investigations, Volkswagen employed slave labor between the 1970s and 1980s in the country, a period in which “workers saw their dignity attacked and their freedom curtailed”.
“The company had public resources and tax benefits that helped to leverage its activity, making it one of the most important centers in the sector”.
Testimonies known to the organization indicate that the ranch workers lived in unhealthy conditions, without drinking water and little food, had no medical treatment in cases of malaria and were prevented from leaving the ranch.
In a statement, the German manufacturer said it rejected the allegations made in the investigation records and stated that it “does not agree with the unilateral statements of fact made by third parties”.
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