▲ Brazilian protesters expressing anti-racist sentiments
A woman in Brazil has been dramatically rescued and regained her freedom after being subjected to forced labor for 55 years across three generations, finally finding liberation in her sixties.
According to the task force dedicated to rescuing victims of slavery under Brazil's National Labor Prosecution Office on July 10 (local time), the 62-year-old woman, identified as A, endured harsh labor conditions equivalent to slavery for 55 years without pay or time off.
She had been effectively confined to a house in Fortaleza, Ceara, since 1971.
A began performing domestic chores at the age of 7, and it was confirmed that her mother had also worked for the same employer's family.
Since then, she spent her entire life performing domestic labor while following the employer's family across three generations.
She was never taught how to read or write.
Prosecutor Maria Neuzeli, who is in charge of eradicating domestic slavery, explained, "A lived in a kind of prison," adding, "She had never managed money, had no bank account, could not make friends, and had never even been to the beach alone."
Labor Ministry investigations revealed that A's daily routine began at 4:30 a.m.
She prepared breakfast, helped the children get ready for school, and continued cleaning and cooking throughout the day without any days off.
The investigation also found that the perpetrator family had even embezzled the poverty support funds A received from the government.
Following investigations by the prosecution and pressure from the government, the employer family that exploited A's labor agreed to purchase an apartment worth 30,000 dollars (approximately 45 million won) that is "fully furnished with furniture and home appliances," and to pay an additional 10,000 dollars in compensation.
However, considering A's extreme psychological dependency and social isolation, Brazilian authorities have arranged for her to stay at the perpetrator's home for the time being until relatives can be located.
The members of the perpetrator family are known to include a retired couple, a lawyer, a civil servant, and a veterinarian. According to the Spanish-language media outlet Infobae, the family denies the allegations of labor exploitation.
This case, which came to light through an anonymous tip, illustrates that the legacy of slavery, which was abolished in 1888, still persists in the form of domestic labor exploitation in the heart of 21st-century Brazil.
According to official statistics, more than 2,700 victims of slavery were rescued in 2025 alone, with two-thirds of these cases occurring in urban areas.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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