1 of 1 Gilberto Gil and Eduardo Leite, Governor of the RS — Photo: Reproduction/Social Networks Gilberto Gil and Eduardo Leite, Governor of the RS — Photo: Reproduction/Social Networks
The singer performed in Porto Alegre on Saturday night (4).
“Rio Grande do Sul had a sad episode last week, a councilor speaking about Bahians. We are very sorry, and since you are a much more representative representative of Bahia, of Brazil as a whole, but the Baianity that you have, “I came here to apologize on his behalf for the nonsense he said. He doesn’t represent the people of Rio Grande do Sul,” the governor told Gil.
Then Leite asked to hug the singer. “Embrace Bahia for me too”. Gil thanked and emphasized that he hugs the entire Rio Grande do Sul.
the case
On Tuesday last week (28), Fantinel asked the Council Chamber Tribune that producers in the region “stop hiring these people from above” and referred to workers from Bahia. He also said that “the only culture Bahians have is living on the beach and playing the drums”.
The councilor was referring to the men found in a shelter in Bento Gonçalves in a slavelike situation. Most of those hired for the harvest came from the northeastern state.
- Council member accused of xenophobia towards Bahians
- Chamber of Councilors accepts impeachment motion for councilor who spoke out against Bahians
A case of a slavelike situation came to light when three workers went to the police after escaping from a barracks where they were being held against their will. An operation performed the same day saved more than 200 people who had been subjected to slavelike labor during the grape harvest.
The workers were hired by the Fenix Administrative Services and Health Management Support Ltd.who provided labor for the wineries Aurora, Cooperativa Garibaldi, Salton and rural producers in the region. They claim they were blackmailed, threatened, beaten and tortured with electric shocks and pepper spray.
The company administrator was arrested by the police, but he posted bail and was released. The wineries that used labor analogous to slavery must be held accountable, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (MTE).
Most of the rescued workers arrived in Bahia this Monday (27). The others chose to stay in RS. Almost all of them have already received their due severance pay totaling over R$1 million.
This Tuesday (28th), the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) suspended the participation of Aurora, Cooperativa Garibaldi and Salton from its activities. ApexBrasil is an autonomous social service affiliated with the Ministry of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC) that markets Brazilian products abroad.