RIO – Procon-SP informed Zara do Brasil with the accusation that a unit of the store in Fortaleza was to use a code, Through the voice alert “Zara Zaraed”, to notify employees when “non-standard” customers enter the organization. The rule was valid, according to witnesses heard by civilian police in Ciara, for black people who were “badly dressed.” The same institution was a target An investigation of racism after, after Discrimination against the black customer.
“Since then, this person has been with the staff, not to receive assistance, but to be under constant surveillance. Because she left the client’s profile and began to be treated as a suspect profile,” said delegate Sergio Pereira at a press conference. last Tuesday.
With this notification, the agency is asking the company to explain the discrimination case against rep Ana Paula Barroso, who was banned from staying in the store in September. The incident resulted in an indictment of racism against Portuguese Bruno Filipe Simويسes Antonio, 32, who served as the manager.
Read more:“It was never the mask. It was racist,” said a rep who was stopped at a shopping mall in Fortaleza.
The company must send a response to Procon-SP, including information on measures taken with employees and collaborators who implemented this approach, as well as for further assistance to the client, until Wednesday, 27.
Zara must also send statements about the training policy applied to its employees and show the actions it takes in relation to awareness, prevention, diversity and inclusion programs and combating racism and discrimination of any kind, as well as indicating the security and monitoring mechanisms used in its network of stores.
In a statement on the issue regarding the delegate, Zara stated that it is “a company that does not tolerate discrimination of any kind and for which diversity, multiculturalism and respect are inherent values and are inseparable from the company’s culture.”
Images analyzed by the Ceará State Forensic Investigation (Pephos) and the Department of Police Intelligence (DIP) at PC-CE show the discriminatory position of the accused. The inner circle of the shop shows the differential treatment given to the victim. In the video, it is possible to tell when she is being fired, and minutes ago, the same employee showed up to a customer who was not wearing the mask properly. Other similar situations were filmed, where white customers were not approached to use the mask properly.
To access the visual material, it was necessary to comply with the order for the search and seizure of electronic equipment in the store, which was made on September 19. The note was requested by the civil police after the store refused to provide the material, according to the Zara employee, it will be necessary to carry out an assessment of the legal department of the store, and only after this analysis will it be given notes on the availability of recordings by cameras.
The Secretariat of Public Security and Social Defense of the State of Ceará (SSPDS/CE) confirmed that the manager’s behavior falls under Section 5 of the Race Offenses Act – due to “denying or denying access to businesses, refusing to service or service or receiving customer or buyer”, with a prison sentence of One to three years.
As for the shop, the police have informed that it may be liable in the civil field for moral damages, as Article 932, Clause III of the Civil Code, states that “the employer or the manager, by their employees, is responsible for civil reparations and the employees and agents in the performance of the work for which they are responsible or because of it.”
Read Zara’s note on the case below:
“Zara Brasil, which did not have access to the police authority report until it was released in the media, wants to say that it will cooperate with the authorities to make it clear that the store’s performance during the Covid-19 pandemic depends on the implementation of health protection protocols, as the applicable government decree states that Mandatory use of masks in public environments.Any other interpretation not only deviates from reality, but also does not reflect company policy.Races and ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientation, religion and culture Zara is a company that does not tolerate any kind of discrimination and which considers diversity and multiculturalism Respect for her is an inherent value that is inseparable from the company culture, and any form of racism must be fought very seriously in all aspects.”
Charlotte Whitmore is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a broad range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and practical information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and accessible journalism that keeps readers connected to the issues shaping the UK and beyond.