Yara Aquino Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – Minister Carlos Lupi, of Labor, says that a landmark regulatory statute is being drawn up to ensure adequate working conditions for workers in civil construction. The main objective of the new rules, explained the minister, will be large construction projects, such as those in the government’s Accelerated Growth Program (“PAC”), where serious labor problems have occurred recently.

Lupi called the PAC construction projects “atypical,” mainly because of the large number of workers employed [the Jirau hydroelectric project in the state of Rondônia, deep in the Amazon rainforest near the border with Bolivia, is an example. Over 20,000 workers, from different parts of the country, were housed on the construction site when riots broke out in the middle of March due to poor living conditions]

According to minister Lupi, speaking at a meeting of representatives of the government, workers and contractors, the new rules will go beyond the minimum legal necessities in order to guarantee better living conditions and opportunities for labor unions to negotiate freely.

“ These are very big construction sites that become veritable cities. The government has a part of the responsibility and must mediate as well as create better working conditions,” said the minister.

As a result of the meeting, a commission of representatives of government, workers and contractors has been established and will meet weekly. It was also decided to create commissions within construction sites so that communications can be timely and there is a constant dialogue between workers and the contractors.

It was also decided that as of now contractors will do hiring through the National Employment System which is run by the Ministry of Labor.

Allen Bennett – translator/editor The News in English

Link - Governo discute com sindicatos e empresários novas relações de trabalho em obras do PAC