Brasília - The number of workplace accidents in Brazil is underreported. According to Mario Bonciane, who directs the Department of Health and Safety at the Ministry of Labor, out of every 10 accidents, only 4 are registered with authorities.

Because it is concerned with this problem, the government is drawing up a national policy on workplace safety which will be coordinated by the ministries of Health and Labor. A document is expected to be ready by the end of September. "We intend to move aggressively in dealing with this problem," says Bonciane.

According to Maria Helena Guthier, a labor department lawyer, although Brazilian law protects worker rights on paper it is necessary to have more inspectors and lawyers to ensure that there is compliance.

At the moment there are some 30 draft bills on workplace safety in the Chamber of Deputies which will eventually be consolidated and become part of an overall labor reform and national policy on workplace safety.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Ellis Regina
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/23/2004