“Brazil may sue VW amid claims firm used ‘slave labour’ under military rule’ – 30 Mar 2023

Brazil is threatening to take the German carmaker Volkswagen to court over allegations that it used slave labour (…) after talks on compensating workers ended without agreement.

Public prosecutors (…) are seeking compensation for men who (…) were forced to work in “humiliating and degrading” conditions, with no clean water or sanitation (…) between 1973 and 1987.

Volkswagen denies all allegations of abuse.

Brazilian prosecutors summoned Volkswagen representatives to a meeting on 29 March – the fourth time the two sides had met to discuss compensation – but the talks ended without agreement.

Brazil’s government would now “take all judicial and extrajudicial measures necessary to seek reparations for the damages caused by the company”, adding, “We will take all appropriate action in courts in Brazil and abroad.”

The case is based on evidence collected over a number of years.