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The Committee takes note of the Government's report. In previous comments, the Committee referred to the observations submitted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and the Latin American Central of Workers (CLAT), alleging the existence of forced labour and debt bondage in certain regions of Brazil. The Committee also took note of the Government's statement concerning the difficulties encountered in detecting, preventing and repressing labour law violations, due to the vast dimensions of the national territory and the difficulty of reaching certain regions. The Committee also noted the Government's efforts to fight against all forms of forced labour, and of the "Termo de Compromisso" agreement signed by the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Reform and Agricultural Development, the National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) and the National Confederation of Agricultural Workers (CONTAG), aiming to eradicate all forms of slave labour (trabalho escravo).

The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its latest reports, to the effect that, thanks to joint action by the bodies that signed the "Termo de Compromisso" in 1986, the Labour Inspectorate was able to deal with a large number of denunciations of slave labour in various states of the country. The result of the investigations was submitted to the competent bodies with a view to establishing the penal responsibility of the offenders.

The Committee also notes that the Government is pursuing its efforts to eliminate all forms of slave labour in rural areas and has stepped up labour inspection in such areas to that end.

The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on this matter, including on the action taken as a result of the investigation referred to.