• Date: 11/29/2010 Paragraphs: 15Social Protection:
The “social protection floor” concept is considered a particularly appropriate tool for guiding policies of expanded social protection under conditions of an expansive informal labor market, and high rates of unemployment and poverty. In addition, the “decent work” concept addresses social protection for workers. Hemispheric and regional agendas on decent work include goals for expanding coverage in the various regions and countries, such as the goal of the “Decent Work in the Americas: An agenda for the Hemisphere, 2006-2015” of expanding such coverage by 20 percent, adopted in Brasília in 2006. Brazilian social programs, such as the 4 Bolsa Família, the Unified Health System (SUS), the Continuous Cash Benefit Program (social assistance for the elderly and extremely poor individuals living with disabilities – BPC), the rural welfare system (Previdência Rural), and unemployment insurance, play an important role in the expansion of Brazilian social protection for the most vulnerable segments of society. The degree of expanded coverage achieved in Brazil has been significant—not only in absolute numbers but also with respect to the percentage of the population
covered by such programs.
Employment and Income:
Brazil’s Minister of Labor and Employment, Mr. Carlos Lupi, took part in the Sixteenth Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the OAS, organized around the theme “Facing the Crisis with Development, Decent Work, and Social Protection.” In most countries of the region, the response to the crisis points to consensus on matters such as appreciation of the role of the State, the implementation of monetary policies to ensure greater levels of liquidity in the economy, and the importance attributed to “anti-cyclical” policies—in most cases, investment policies designed to deter economic slowdowns and create jobs, policies targeting the labor market to promote new or maintain existing jobs, and social protection policies to increase coverage of or extend benefits and thereby ensure minimum levels for the most affected population.
With regard to strengthening the formal labor sector and the rights of migrants, it is essential to underscore the importance of protecting the most vulnerable groups, which should necessarily include migrant workers. Social protection programs for these groups should not be limited to creating jobs for those who are out of work, but also include non-contributory social security systems so as to cover workers in the informal economy and people who are unable to work.
Brazil’s results in the areas of labor and employment have outstripped expectations. Since 2003, a total of 24 million Brazilians were lifted from absolute poverty, while another 31 million joined the ranks of the middle class. From January 2003 to April 2010, a total of 12,715,090 jobs were created in the formal sector. Over the past 12 months, 1,278,277 new jobs were created, and this recovery has been witnessed in all sectors of the economy.
Moreover, in March 2009, unemployment in the country’s major metropolitan areas was 7.6 percent—the lowest March unemployment rate since such recordkeeping began back in 2002. It bears mentioning that since 2003, Brazil’s National Worker Training Policy (PNQ) has prepared nearly 800,000 workers for careers in civil engineering, tourism, the petroleum and natural gas industries, shipbuilding, textiles, agriculture and extractive activities, the “solidarity economy” (i.e., micro- and small-scale enterprises, etc.), as well as in the trade and services sectors. Another 700,000 young people were also prepared to enter the job market.
Also worthy of note is the National Agenda of Decent Work, comprising four priority areas of cooperation: (a) job creation, microfinance activities, and human resources training, with emphasis on the employment of young people; (b) viability and expansion of the social security system; (c) strengthening of “tripartism” and social dialogue; (d) combating child labor, child and adolescent sexual abuse, forced labor, as well as discrimination in the workplace and employment.
• Date: 11/29/2010 Paragraphs: 16Employment and Income:
Brazil’s Minister of Labor and Employment, Mr. Carlos Lupi, took part in the Sixteenth Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labor (IACML) of the OAS, organized around the theme “Facing the Crisis with Development, Decent Work, and Social Protection.” In most countries of the region, the response to the crisis points to consensus on matters such as appreciation of the role of the State, the implementation of monetary policies to ensure greater levels of liquidity in the economy, and the importance attributed to “anti-cyclical” policies—in most cases, investment policies designed to deter economic slowdowns and create jobs, policies targeting the labor market to promote new or maintain existing jobs, and social protection policies to increase coverage of or extend benefits and thereby ensure minimum levels for the most affected population.
With regard to strengthening the formal labor sector and the rights of migrants, it is essential to underscore the importance of protecting the most vulnerable groups, which should necessarily include migrant workers. Social protection programs for these groups should not be limited to creating jobs for those who are out of work, but also include non-contributory social security systems so as to cover workers in the informal economy and people who are unable to work. Brazil’s results in the areas of labor and employment have outstripped expectations. Since 2003, a total of 24 million Brazilians were lifted from absolute poverty, while another 31 million joined the ranks of the middle class. From January 2003 to April 2010, a total of 12,715,090 jobs were created in the formal sector...continue
• Date: 11/29/2010 Paragraphs: 18Protection of Children:
The results achieved by Brazil in combating child labor are attributable to the policies instituted by the federal government beginning in 1994, such as the establishment of the National Forum for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor (FNPETI, 1994), and the Program for the Eradication of Child Labor (PETI, 1996). Other significant efforts in this regard include Brazil’s ratification (2001) of the ILO Convention Concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor (Convention 182), formulation of the National Plan for the Eradication of Child Labor (2004), and publication of Decree No. 6481 of June 12, 2008, which defines and regulates child and adolescent labor conditions on the basis of ILO Convention 182. These actions, which have been comprehensively integrated into Brazilian social policies and programs including, inter alia, Bolsa Família, the pro-youth program of socio-educational services of basic protection "ProJovem Adolescente," and Fome Zero have met with extremely positive results, including a drop in the child labor rate among children ages 5 to 15 years, from 13.6 percent in 1992, to 5.8 percent in 2008. International initiatives in this regard, especially in the context of South-South cooperation, have proven effective at reducing poverty, hunger, and child labor. Moreover, Brazil will host the Third Global Conference on Child Labor in 2013.
Trafficking in Persons:
In October 2006, Brazil launched its National Policy for Combating Trafficking in Persons, in the wake of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, ratified on March 12, 2004, and enacted into law by Decree No. 5017 that same year. A number of different federal government agencies and civil society organizations contributed to the development of this Policy, which establishes the principles, guidelines, and actions to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons, as well as to care for its victims.
In January 2008, Brazil launched its National Plan for Combating Trafficking in Persons (PNETP). The purpose of the PNETP is to guide implementation of the National Policy to Combat Trafficking in Persons, through the establishment of a series of goals to be accomplished over a 2-year period, to be carried out in a comprehensive manner by different agencies of the Brazilian State. The PNETP not only comprises activities related to criminal justice and citizen security, but also in the areas of foreign relations, education, health, social welfare, promotion of racial equality, labor and employment, agricultural development, human rights, protection and promotion of women’s rights, tourism, and culture.