Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Brazil (Ratification: 1969)

1. With reference to its previous observation, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the quashing, on 11 April 2000, by the Pará Court of Justice, of the verdict of acquittal pronounced in the first trial in the case of three military police officers accused of the death of 19 landless workers in the region of Eldorado dos Carajás in 1996. It notes that a second trial is to take place and asks the Government to inform the International Labour Office on the subsequent developments in this regard.

2. The Committee notes the measures taken to improve the standards of living of the Brazilian people, most notably in the framework of the agrarian reform initiated in 1995. It notes, in particular, the settling of 372,866 families of landless rural workers (representing approximately 1,864,000 Brazilians) on plots of land granted by the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) from 1995 to 1999, including 101,000 families in 1998 alone, for a corresponding area of 13,204,789 hectares. It also notes that some 115,000 houses were built in the settlements, together with 9,475 kilometres of rural electricity grids; 27,191 kilometres of local roads; 1,283 wells; 736 dams; 108 stores; 458 community centres; 323 schools; and 366 health centres. The Committee also notes the detailed information concerning the agrarian reform projects initiated by the INCRA in the different states of the country.

3. The Committee notes the detailed statistical data concerning basic education, as well as the information concerning vocational training, in particular the activities of the National Programme for the Training of Workers (PLANFOR) created in 1995 and applied since 1996.

4. The Committee further notes the draft supplementary law authorizing states and the federal district to institute a minimum wage for employees who do not have a minimum wage defined under federal law or in a collective agreement or contract. It asks the Government to keep it informed of any development in this respect, and to provide the ILO with a copy of the above text.

In addition, a request regarding other points is being addressed directly to the Government.