Dirt List of Contractors
Intervention Mechanism
A “dirty list” of contractors or employers is a public transparency mechanism used to identify companies and individuals found responsible for serious labour rights violations, such as conditions analogous to modern slavery. It is designed as a transparency and accountability tool rather than a criminal sanction.
Initiative Summary
Maintained by the Ministry of Labour, the initiative in Brazil publicly discloses employers - including construction companies - that, following administrative due process, were found to have subjected workers to degrading conditions, forced labour, debt bondage, or exhausting working hours. Employers remain on the list for a fixed period, creating reputational, financial, and regulatory consequences.
Practice Lesson
The initiative demonstrates how public disclosure and transparency can be used to strengthen labour oversight, deter abusive practices, and increase accountability in sectors with elevated corruption and exploitation risks such as construction.
Reference
Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego. (2026, April 8). MTE atualiza “Lista Suja” do trabalho análogo à escravidão com 169 novos empregadores. Available from: https://www.gov.br/trabalho-e-emprego/pt-br/noticias-e-conteudo/2026/abril/mte-atualiza-201clista-suja201d-do-trabalho-analogo-a-escravidao-com-169-novos-empregadores