State omission in fighting undignified working conditions: invisible contemporary slavery

Abstract

This theoretical article, based on bibliographic and documentary research using secondary sources, examines how state omission contributes to the perpetuation of degrading working conditions and, consequently, to the persistence of contemporary slavery. Its objective is to discuss the State’s failures in monitoring and addressing cases of labor analogous to slavery, with a focus on their implications within the scope of human rights. These aspects are addressed through a conceptual and normative analysis of the notion of contemporary slavery, which stands in contrast to decent work and, consequently, to the constitutional principle of human dignity. As preliminary findings, it was observed that although important mechanisms and public policies to combat contemporary slave labor have been developed over the decades, the eradication of contemporary slavery in the national territory remains far from being achieved. To fulfill its aim, the article adopts a deductive approach.