Rio court seizes OBS assets amid claims of labour law breaches

Olympic Broadcasting Services, the host broadcaster organisation for all Olympic Games, has been hit by a Brazilian court ruling accusing it of breaching labour laws during the summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The court has ordered the seizure of OBS equipment and vehicles after prosecutors accused the International Olympic Committee division of the breaches. The Reuters news agency, citing court papers, said the ruling by Judge Marcia Leite Nery was enforced after the closure of the Paralympic Games on Sunday to avoid interfering with the event’s broadcast.

Prosecutors said OBS broke labour laws by making employees work irregular hours and for more than 10 hours a day during the two major events. In a statement provided to the Associated Press news agency, OBS said it was taking all legal measures in its defence.

“OBS takes pride in ensuring that regardless of where the Games take place the professionals participating in the operation are provided with working conditions which are in line with the best practices of the industry at an international level,” the statement read.

More than 7,000 staff from more than 70 different countries worked for OBS during the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games.