The International Labor Organization (ILO) considers worrying the situation in Brazil where there is a high level of young workers in the informal job market without any workers’ warranty.
ILO recommends the government to intensify its public policies in order to include this group in the formal job market.
According to a 2003 research issued by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), 13.8 million people, most 18 to 39 years old, are in the informal sector.
This number represents 25% of the total working population in the country’s urban centers, and when compared to 1997, it has increased 8%.
In the opinion of ILO’s Deputy Director in Brazil, José Carlos Ferreira, “Brazilian numbers are alarming, because among young black men, ages 16 to 24, informality reaches 72% of this group’s total working population.
“Women’s situation must also be examined in detail, because they suffer much more the unemployment condition, and ingress into informality much faster because of the lack of options.”
Graduated in Social Work and working at a private company, Regina Papastawridis, 29, was fired after having her second child, and decided to invest on her own business. With her husband’s support, she set up a bazaar near her home, in the north side of Rio de Janeiro.
She now says that problems with maid, babysitter, or time to go to the supermarket are over. For her the most important factor in deciding not to look for another job was the need to stay closer to home and her family, and to participate on her kids’ activities. She is also saving money by not hiring helper for home chores.
Ferreira said that the informality may be related to globalization, since it has been growing worldwide.
ILO’s data indicate that the informal job market includes 60% of workers in Africa, 40% in Asia, 10% in Europe, and in Latin America it varies between 38% in Chile and 48% in Brazil (higher than IBGE’s data).
Agência Brasil