TRABALHO ANÁLOGO AO ESCRAVO NO BRASIL

Abstract

This thesis aims to investigate the historical, economic, social, and legal reasons that explain the persistence of labor analogous to slavery in Brazil, even after the formal abolition of slavery by the Lei Áurea in 1888. Although abolition was a legal milestone, the study reveals that the phenomenon of slavery-like labor persists in the country to this day, violating fundamental principles of human dignity, human rights, and labor rights. The research addresses the issue through the following question: “How can we understand the persistence of slavery in Brazil even after the enactment of the Lei Áurea, considering the complete affront to human dignity, human rights, and labor rights?” The analysis of the theme develops from an interdisciplinary perspective, involving legal, historical, and sociological aspects. First, it investigates the Brazilian colonial legacy and how structural racism, combined with the absence of effective public policies in the post-abolition period, contributed to the marginalization of millions of workers. Subsequently, the study analyzes the legal concept of labor analogous to slavery, as provided in the Federal Constitution and labor legislation, and how this concept has been expanded to include contemporary practices of exploitation, such as forced labor, exhaustive work hours, and degrading conditions. Finally, the thesis proposes a critical reflection on the effectiveness of public policies aimed at eradicating contemporary slave labor and presents recommendations for strengthening actions related to inspection, victim protection, and employer accountability. The need for a more integrated approach, involving the public sector, civil society, and the international community, is presented as essential for the definitive eradication of this violation of fundamental rights in Brazil.