São Paulo, October 3, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A delegation from the Russian Federation initiated, yesterday, a cycle of visits to central unions and specialized labor organs to gather data on the Brazilian system of Work Accident and Occupational Disease Insurance. The information will be used to conclude a project that is being developed to implement an insurance system in that country, in order to improve working conditions for the Russian population. Brazil is the first South American country on the agenda.

According to the Russian vice-Minister of Labor and Social Development, Valeriy Janvariev, labor relations in Russia are going through a period in which various cooperation mechanisms between workers and employers are being developed. "So, many conversations are being held between the two sides, and I believe that, in this manner, the most frequent problems will be resolved, leading to an improvement in work conditions around the country," he said. (DAS)