BRASILIA — McDonald's Corp, the world's biggest fast-food chain, was accused of mistreating its employees and dodging taxes on Thursday during a Senate hearing in Brazil, where politicians, union leaders and workers from five continents voiced allegations. McDonald's has come under increasing scrutiny worldwide for allegations of labor abuses, health and safety violations, plus tax evasion in Europe, and Brazilian Sen. Pablo Paim called a hearing to allow both sides to make their cases. McDonald's deferred comment to its regional operator. Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc, the world's largest McDonald's franchisee and its main operator in Latin America, where it employs 95,000 people and had sales of $3.7 billion last year, was invited to attend the hearing but chose not to, a company spokesman said. “We are absolutely convinced that the company has complied with labor laws ever since it opened its first restaurant in Brazil 36 years ago,” Arcos Dorados said in a statement. It said the company was proud to be the top first-job employer for young Brazilians. — Reuters
