Rio, May 31, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The 500 largest companies in Brazil are concerned about eliminating inequalities in labor relations. However, according to a study sponsored by the Ethos Institute and released on Thursday (27) at the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), many of these companies obstruct racial and social diversity by adopting a culture of exclusion.

The study, "Social, Racial, and Gender Profile of the 500 Largest Companies in Brazil and their Affirmative Actions," prepared by the IBOPE (Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics) at the request of the Ethos Institute, reveals that women, although they have made significant advances on the labor market, occupy only 9% of the executive posts in these companies. Women hold 18% of the managerial positions and are foremen and section heads in 28% of the cases.

For the president of the Firjan's Business Social Responsibility Council, Luiz Chor, these are worrisome data. He recalled, however, that the Ethos Institute study gives an indication of the firms' concern over social responsibility, which is a positive sign.

In racial terms, the study shows that 74% of the firms in Brazil have no blacks among their corps of directors. In 58% of the 500 largest firms, women do not figure among the holders of the highest executive positions. Of the 6,016 women who exercise managerial functions, only 372 are black, and there are only 3 blacks among the 339 female executives in these large companies.

According to Professor Hélio Santos, of the University of São Marcos (SP), the study demonstrates that "the companies do not favor female or black talents. A culture of exclusion exists." Black females are singled out as those who are least valued on the job market.

In terms of salary, the document indicates that the average monthly income of black workers is 50% that of their white counterparts, although 40% of the firms that were surveyed have policies to raise the participation of representatives of racial minorities and bearers of disabilities in the job market.

Reporter: Alana Gandra
Translator: David Silberstein