RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil’s labour ministry says its inspectors have found 11 men hired by the construction firm building the athletes’ village for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics living in slave-like conditions.
The ministry’s website says the workers were hired by Brasilia Global Services, the construction firm in charge of the “Ilha Pura” project where athletes will be housed during the Olympic games.
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The ministry says the workers were found living in cramped, rat- and roach-infested lodgings provided by the company.
Rio de Janeiro’s Extra newspaper says the company has denied it made it workers live in slave-like conditions.
Brasilia Global Services was contracted by the Ilha Pura consortium that says it is co-operating with investigators.
Brasilia Global Services was not immediately available for comment on Saturday.
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