This text describes the elements of the reform of labor legislation that President Lula submitted to the Brazilian Congress. Before examining the project, the author offers a brief description of the principal characteristics of the Brazilian system o...
This text describes the elements of the reform of labor legislation that President Lula submitted to the Brazilian Congress. Before examining the project, the author offers a brief description of the principal characteristics of the Brazilian system of labor relations: labor unions and their funding, employers’ associations, collective bargaining, mechanisms for solving conflicts, strikes and the role of the government. The text then examines the principal aspects of Lula’s proposal, highlighting its two concepts of representativeness (proven and derived) and the funding mechanism for unions. The author seeks to show that the proposed reform should strengthen the union peak organizations, , centralize negotiations and introduce the Brazilian unions into the workplace. Finally, the author evaluates the likelihood of approval by Congress, concluding that it is not very great. The conclusion is that even if it is not examined and approved, Lula’s project will mark the future debate on labor reform in Brazil.