Condition similar to slavery for 20 years: elderly couple had to live in a warehouse Kept in conditions similar to slavery for 20 years in Guarapuava, in the central region of Paraná, elderly people did not have running water and depended on third parties to obtain food. A man and a woman, aged 84 and 66, lived in a warehouse with rotten structures. ✅Follow the g1 PR channel on WhatsApp g1 found that the employer is rural producer Elton Lange. RPC, a TV Globo affiliate in Paraná, tried to interview him in person, but he refused and did not comment on the situation. He must pay R$70,000 to the victims. The case came to light after the couple was rescued on Wednesday (10) by the Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT), linked to the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE). The team of labor inspectors verified that the couple improvised three different structures to live in, all built in wood: an old warehouse was adapted as a house, a bathroom and a place with a shower. In the room that would be the bathroom, 20 meters away from the magazine, the walls were open, with cracks, improvised electrical installations and an irregular water supply. House and bathroom were in separate structures Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT) According to the auditors, the couple's improvised accommodation was at risk of collapse and fire, with consequent suffocation and poisoning. "The residence showed advanced signs of deterioration, with parts of the structure rotting, gaps in the walls and risk of compromising the stability of the building. [...] Firewood and combustible materials were stored next to the wood stove, and there was an inadequate installation of a gas cylinder inside the residence." Also according to the auditors, the water used for consumption and domestic activities was collected directly from springs and water courses on the property. The couple reported that they boiled water before consumption, whenever possible. Work similar to slavery: understand what it is, how to recognize it and how to report it During the inspection, it was found that the employer did not provide protective equipment or other inputs necessary to carry out the activities carried out on the property. The couple was at risk of bites from venomous animals and diseases of the respiratory system, "due to the lack of conditions for closing and sealing the walls of the buildings." Accommodation was structurally damaged, according to inspectors Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT) "In addition to the degrading conditions, the suppression of other labor rights was found, such as lack of registration, non-granting of paid annual leave, non-payment of thirteenth salary, remuneration below the regional minimum wage", state the auditors. Also according to MPT representatives, at the administrative level, 14 irregularities were identified. In the criminal sphere, the farmer can be investigated by the Federal Police. However, this Thursday (11), the corporation told g1 that it had not yet been notified about the situation. The rescue was carried out in the town of Combrão, close to PR-170. The elderly were sent to the home of a son, who grew up in the same place with his parents and then moved to the city. Accommodation was structurally damaged, according to inspectors Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT) READ ALSO: Another case: Elderly man forced to work 24 hours a day is rescued 'He forces me to order, don't respond': Mother reports kidnapping of daughter and granddaughter after exchanging messages, in Paraná See: Video of dogs released on the street by a clinic leads to the discovery of a series of irregularities Reports Cases of work similar to slavery can be reported anonymously and securely through the Ipê System, available online. Access this link The platform was launched by the Labor Inspection Secretariat (SIT), in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO), and is part of the permanent actions of the Labor Tax Audit in combating contemporary slave labor. Most watched videos on g1 Paraná Read more news on g1 Paraná