Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Brazil (Ratification: 1969)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy in the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report on the Convention received in January 2009 as well as the detailed replies to the questionnaire for the General Survey on employment (2010). The Government explained in its report that the positive dynamic macroeconomic indicators have led to a decline in the unemployment rate (which fell from 9.5 per cent in July 2007 to 8.1 per cent in July 2008). The Government also indicated that the main characteristic of the cycle of growth was the marked formalization of the labour market. According to Panorama Laboral 2008, the evolution of the labour market in 2008 was one of the most favourable in recent years. The trend of reduced unemployment and informal employment continued. The average registered unemployment rate in the six metropolitan regions was 8 per cent in the period January to November 2008, 1.5 percentage points lower than that of the same period in 2007. In November 2008, there were early signs of a slowdown, with a loss of 40,800 jobs – the first negative result for the month of November in six years. The Committee also notes that unemployment has affected women more than men (in 2007, the rate was 10.8 per cent among women and 6.1 per cent among men). Young people have also suffered higher unemployment rates then the rest of the population (youth unemployment was 15.4 per cent in 2007, whereas the average rate of unemployment across the population was 8.2 per cent). The Committee also notes that, according to the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), the number of poor families in Brazil fell from 35 per cent to 24.1 per cent between 2002 and 2008 in six major cities of the country, which has entailed that 4 million people ceased to be considered poor. The Government adopted counter-cyclical measures and maintained its infrastructure projects under the Growth Acceleration Plan, entailing investments of US$300 billion in 2009. Programmes to build houses for the poorest families are promoted, as well as an expansion of beneficiaries of the Bolsa Familia programme that provides financial assistance to 11.1 million families in the country. The Committee invites the Government to provide an evaluation in its next report of the impact of the various active labour measures undertaken, including the views of the social partners, on the current employment situation.

Workers in the informal economy. Support to small-sized and micro-enterprises and to cooperatives. The Committee notes that the Job and Income Generation Programme (PROGER) continues to distribute funds to sectors which typically have little or no access to the financial system, such as micro- and small enterprises, cooperatives and workers’ associations, liberal professionals, farming families and informal sector productive initiatives. PROGER also provides support to enterprises in sectors which are prioritized in Government development policies, developing infrastructure, promoting export activities and encouraging technological innovation. According to the statistics provided, between 2000 and 2008, over 16.3 million contracts were signed under PROGER. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information regarding the impact of the activities promoted by PROGER in terms of employment generation. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government, even in light of the global crisis, micro- and small enterprises continue to generate jobs and the sector represents the bigger part of the formal enterprises in the country. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed regarding the measures implemented to promote the development of technical and managerial skills among the workers in the sector. The Committee also notes that currently the National Congress is implementing a new project to upgrade the existing regulations on cooperatives. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the development of a new legal framework favourable to cooperatives and of its expected impact on the creation of employment.

Contribution of the employment services. In respect of the matters raised in its 2008 observation, the Committee notes that the Government deems it necessary to achieve greater integration of the 340 centres in the Public Employment, Labour and Income System (SPETR) and between the various activities of the system and a more adequate distribution of the resources made available to the SPETR. The Committee requests the Government to provide information, in its next report, on the advances made to ensure that the public employment services are contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention.

Article 2(a). Collection and use of employment data. The Committee notes that the Labour Market Observatory is a tool for research and planning whose objective is to produce and disseminate information, analyse and make action-oriented proposals for advising administrators of public policies and subsidies. The Committee asks the Government to indicate how the information and statistics on the employment situation and trends submitted by the Labour Market Observatory have contributed to the adoption and review of the employment policies.

Educational and vocational training policies. The Committee notes the information provided on the Social and Vocational Training Programme (QSP), which is a comprehensive vocational education programme that has made a significant contribution in terms of helping people participate in the world of work, thereby helping to achieve the objectives set out in the National Training Plan (PNQ). From 2003 to 2007, the PNQ provided vocational training to meet the requirements of 664,850 workers in the country. In 2008, 39 training plans for specific economic sectors were under way. A joint initiative by the Ministry of Social Development and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, directed at the construction sector, will promote a national training and vocational placement initiative for the beneficiaries of the Bolsa Familia programme. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the impact the QSP and other initiatives have had on providing workers with the opportunity to acquire the necessary training to find suitable employment and to use their training and skills in such employment.