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Day of demonstrations in Brazil to demand regulation of outsourcing

8 August, 2013The Brazilian trade union centrals demonstrate against proposed new Law 4.330, which would make working conditions even more precarious than they are already. IndustriALL supports its affiliates in the fight against subcontracting in Brazil.

On 6 August, trade unions from almost all sectors, including IndustriALL affiliates, held demonstrations in cities across the country. In Sao Paulo, the centre of finance capital in the country, the demonstrations began around 10am in front of the offices of the employers’ federation, FIESP (Federación de las Industrias del Estado de Sao Paulo). More than 3,000 workers participated in the demonstration and sent a message to the government and the National Congress that the working class will be out on the streets of the federal capital, Brasilia, if the bill is put to the vote on 14 August as planned.

Quadripartite negotiations between union and employer representatives, the government and federal deputies to discuss amendments to the proposed legislation on outsourcing ended on 5 August. Union representatives argued for amendments to protect workers’ rights but met resistance from the employers.

The trade union central CUT said that workers from the banking, metalworking, chemical, glass, garment and oil sectors and national and municipal public sector workers from greater São Paulo and the interior participated in the demonstrations.

The trade union central Força Sindical said that workers from many sectors participated because outsourcing affects practically all sectors.

The proposed legislation would allow companies to subcontract work in what are considered to be core activities, that is, those for which the company was created.

At the demonstrations, unions distributed information detailing the problems caused by outsourcing, warning that the bill submitted to congress by deputy Sandro Mabel extends outsourcing to all activities. This will encourage companies to replace permanent workers with agency workers on inferior terms. For example, telemarketing, finance, oil and energy companies will be more likely to outsource work than take on permanent staff.

IndustriALL affiliates in Brazil, together with the country’s trade union movement, believe that the  bill put forward by deputy Sandro Mabel represents a  backward step for workers because it would make it possible for employers to recruit workers on inferior terms. The trade unions want a law to regulate outsourcing, but want legislation to establish equal rights and equal pay for direct and outsourced workers and prevent any outsourcing of core activities.