Brazil: unemployment and precariousness of employees on the rise a few months before the presidential election

In Brazil, the latest labor law reform has reduced the rights of employees and increased precariousness.

© REUTERS - AMANDA PEROBELLI

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In Brazil, it's a tense May 1st in Brazil, five months before the presidential election.

Former President Lula will participate in a rally of trade unionists in a football stadium in São Paulo.

A single target: the economic and social policy of President Jair Bolsonaro, who is seeking a second term.

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With our correspondent in São Paulo

,

Martin Bernard

“ 

Jobs, social rights, democracy and life

 ”, these are the big watchwords after more than three years of

Bolsonaro

government , including two years of Covid-19.

Not only has unemployment reached 11% of the population, but the number of workers in the informal sector, therefore without social protection, exceeds 40 million.

According to trade unionists, the latest labor law reform has reduced the rights of employees and increased precariousness.

A reform that Lula has rightly promised to modify if elected.

The increase in the cost of living

Purchasing power also fell.

Inflation has been over 10% for a year, while wages are not keeping up.

It is

the households with the lowest incomes

who are the most affected by the sharp rise in the prices of basic products, such as food, or gas and petrol.

The poorest receive government aid, around 80 euros per month, but the program should stop at the end of the year, that is to say after the elections.

To listen: How is Brazil?

After two years of pandemic, 6 months from the elections, and in the middle of

Carnival

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  • Brazil

  • Economy

  • Jair Bolsonaro