An intervention-focused review of modern slave labor in Brazil’s mining sector

Mining constitutes an important sector in Brazil’s economy and has a history of modern slave labor. Brazil is the second largest producer of iron ore and manganese, a major exporter of gold and copper, and holds 40% of the world’s Tantalum reserves. The aim of this review is to summarize literature on modern slave labor in artisinal and small-scale mining in Brazil’s gold mining sector. Peer-reviewed and gray literature were screened for relevance and a total of 60 articles were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Findings indicate that miners in modern slave labor are often seasonal migrants and the severity of exploitation depends on the size, formality, and legality of the mines. A range of factors influence modern slave labor in ASM, including socio-economic discrepancies, seasonal labor migration, informality, weak sanctions against companies that use modern slave labor, and inadequte reintegration programs for victims. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to limited peer-reviewed literature on modern slave labor in ASM and its insights for designing and implementing effective, environmentally-conscious, and gender-sensitive interventions. The study underscores the urgency for addressing modern slave labor in ASM, given its adverse impacts on the workers’ well-being, mining communities, and the environment.