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The dirty list of work analogous to slavery has been updated by the federal government with 169 new names, including the singer Amado Batista for exploitation in rural properties in Goiás and BYD for the rescue of 224 Chinese workers in degrading conditions in Bahia.
The federal government of Brazil updated on April 6 the dirty list of work analogous to slavery, and two names drew immediate attention. The sertanejo singer Amado Batista and the Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD were included among the 169 new employers caught in labor exploitation practices, raising the total of the dirty list to 613 names. Amado Batista was fined for exploiting workers in rural properties in the state of Goiás. BYD was held responsible for the exploitation of Chinese workers during the construction of a factory in Bahia.
The update of the dirty list represents a growth of 6.28% compared to the previous survey and highlights that the problem of work analogous to slavery in Brazil is not restricted to a sector or employer profile. The presence of a famous artist and a billion-dollar multinational on the same dirty list that includes farmers and small domestic employers demonstrates the breadth of a problem that affects everything from rural properties in Goiás to construction sites of large corporations in Bahia. The list is updated biannually by the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
The case of BYD on the dirty list: 224 workers rescued in Bahia
According to g1, the case of BYD is the most emblematic of this update of the dirty list due to its scale. During an inspection in 2024, 163 Chinese workers were rescued in conditions analogous to slavery at the construction site of the factory that the manufacturer is building in Bahia.
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These workers had been brought in illegally and faced intolerable situations in their accommodations, with little or no freedom of movement.
With the advancement of investigations, the total number of rescued workers reached 224, amplifying the severity of the case that placed BYD on the federal government’s dirty list.
The Chinese manufacturer, which is heavily investing in the Brazilian electric vehicle market, saw its image associated with practices that contradict the values of sustainability and social responsibility that the brand promotes in its campaigns. Inclusion on the dirty list has practical consequences: listed companies face restrictions on access to public financing and may be barred from participating in government tenders.
The case of Amado Batista on the dirty list: 14 workers exploited in Goiás
On the other side of the country, sertanejo singer Amado Batista was fined for conditions of work analogous to slavery on two rural properties in the state of Goiás.
In total, 14 workers were identified in a situation of exploitation on the artist’s farms, who has a career of more than four decades in Brazilian music and is one of the most well-known names in the sertanejo genre.
The inclusion of Amado Batista on the dirty list generated immediate repercussions on social media and reignited the debate about the responsibility of rural employers regarding working conditions on their properties.
The case follows the pattern documented by the Ministry of Labor in previous inspections in the agricultural sector, where workers are found without formal registration, without adequate safety equipment, and in accommodation conditions that violate labor legislation.
What is the dirty list and how does it work in Brazil
The dirty list is the official registry of employers caught by the federal government in practices of work analogous to slavery.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment updates the document biannually based on inspections conducted by labor auditors throughout the national territory. Employers included remain on the dirty list for two years, during which they face commercial and financial restrictions.
With the April 2026 update, the dirty list includes 613 active employers. So far, 225 names have been removed after regularizing working conditions and fulfilling the obligations determined by the auditors.
The next update is scheduled for October 2027. The diversity of sectors represented on the dirty list includes agriculture, construction, domestic services, and industry, showing that labor exploitation is not concentrated in a single economic segment.
The numbers that reveal the dimension of the problem behind the dirty list
The inclusion of 169 new names in a single update shows that the fight against work analogous to slavery in Brazil is far from being won.
States like Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Bahia lead in the number of recorded occurrences, reflecting both the extent of agricultural and industrial activities in these regions and the intensity of inspection operations.
The growth of 6.28% in the dirty list compared to the previous update indicates that new inspections are finding cases that previously went unnoticed. Both individuals and legal entities appear among the fined employers, showcasing the breadth of the problem.
The conditions documented by auditors vary, but share a pattern: exhausting work hours, precarious accommodations, restrictions on freedom of movement, and absence of basic labor rights. The dirty list is the most visible tool of the federal government to publicly expose those who profit from the exploitation of workers.
What happens to those who enter the federal government’s dirty list
Inclusion on the dirty list is not merely symbolic. Listed employers face restrictions on access to public credit, may be barred from entering into contracts with the government, and have their names published in an open registry that can be consulted by any citizen, company, or financial institution.
For corporations like BYD, reputational exposure can be as damaging as formal sanctions.
For individuals like Amado Batista, the dirty list represents damage to public image that transcends the legal sphere. Remaining on the registry for two years keeps the name associated with labor exploitation in internet searches, news reports, and inquiries from business partners.
Regularization is possible but requires full compliance with labor obligations and payment of compensation to affected workers. Until then, the dirty list serves as a public showcase of those caught exploiting labor under conditions that Brazilian law equates to slavery.
What do you think about the inclusion of BYD and Amado Batista on the federal government’s dirty list? Do you believe the punishment is proportional or should it be more severe? Leave your comments. Work analogous to slavery in 2026 is a debate that cannot be ignored.
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