The City Council of Caxias do Sul approved, this Thursday (2), unanimously (21 votes in favor and none against), the opening of the process of impeachment of the mandate of councilor Sandro Fantinel (without party).
The councilors received four complaints against Fantinel for alleged breach of parliamentary decorum. In a speech at the City Council, on February 28, Fantinel said that entrepreneurs in the grape and wine sector should no longer hire “those people up there”, in reference to workers from Bahia who were rescued in a situation analogous to slavery in wineries from Bento Gonçalves, in Rio Grande do Sul.
The councilor also defended the hiring of Argentines who, according to him, would be clean, hardworking, correct, work on time, keep the house clean and on the day they leave they thank the boss. Fantinel completed by saying that the only culture that Bahians have is living on the beach playing drums and, therefore, it would be normal for people to have this type of problem.
Days earlier, a joint action between the Federal Highway Police (PRF), Federal Police (PF) and the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) rescued 207 workers, mostly from Bahia, who faced degrading working conditions in the grape harvest.
According to the City Council, Sandro Fantinel will be notified this Friday (3) of the opening of the impeachment process. Councilors will have 90 days to complete the process after notification.
Patriota announced this Thursday (1st) the expulsion of councilor Fantinel from the party. “The speech is tainted by serious disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed principles and rights, human dignity, equality, decorum, order, work, since they refer in a vile way to human beings sadly found in a degrading situation. This situation makes his permanence in the ranks of Patriota irreconcilable, a party that excels in respect for laws, life and equity”, says a note from the party.
Rescue in Minas Gerais
Ten people were rescued in slave labor on a coffee farm, in the city of Santa Rita do Sapucaí (MG), according to the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT).
According to inspectors, the workers were in precarious accommodation, without a toilet, washbasin, cupboards or drinking water. In addition, they were obliged to pay, with a deduction from their salary, for personal protective equipment, food and personal hygiene products, which characterizes debts for servitude.
According to the MPT, the group left Caetanos, in Bahia, to work harvesting coffee in the city of Minas Gerais. The journey of more than 1,400 kilometers was paid for by the workers themselves.
The employer entered into an agreement in which he committed not to keep employees in degrading working conditions, full payment of wages and free supply of safety equipment.
In case of non-compliance, a fine of BRL 1 thousand will be applied for each finding.
