Geopolítica Do Trabalho Escravo Em Mato Grosso

Abstract

This study examines the profile of employers who were fined for subjecting workers to conditions analogous to slavery in the state of Mato Grosso between 2020 and 2024. The research adopts an empirical and qualitative approach, supported by quantitative data, based on a documentary analysis of inspection reports from the Special Mobile Inspection Group. A total of 78 reports were examined, of which 16 acknowledged the occurrence of contemporary slave labor, allowing for the identification of patterns related to the legal status of employers, economic sectors, geographic location, and characteristics of the violations. The results indicate a predominance of individual employers, mostly men, in the agricultural sector, particularly in cattle ranching, with a high prevalence of informality and decentralized production. It was found that degrading conditions constitute the primary defining element of the crime, often associated with other labor and human rights violations. The geographic dispersion of the cases and the integration of activities into expanded production chains highlight the structural and transnational nature of the phenomenon. It is concluded that holding employers accountable requires strengthening institutional mechanisms and broadening the focus to production chains, in order to prevent the recurrence of these practices and ensure the effectiveness of workers’ fundamental rights.