Ambev to pay worker forced into prostitute parties

Latin America's biggest beverage company Ambev must pay $25,000 to a worker who was forced to attend prostitute parties as part of a manager's incentive program, Brazil's top labor court ruled.

Anheuser Busch InBev's Brazilian unit AmBev must pay because of the embarrassment and bullying the employee suffered, the court stated in a release on its website.

The statement says incidents with prostitutes happened at least 10 times in 2003 and 2004.

The court's Monday statement says the worker at one point was tied up at work and forced to watch pornographic films and a stripper performed in his office. The statement described the worker as a married evangelical Christian.

The worker's manager used the services of prostitutes to reward salesmen who met their goals.

Ambev said Tuesday in an emailed statement that "old cases" don't reflect the company's daily operations, adding that it "preaches respect and values teamwork."