Government launches project to qualify domestic workers
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Published 04/30/2024 20:37
Only 23% of domestic workers in Brazil (a category in which 92% are women and 61.5% are black) are in formal conditions, with a formal contract and guaranteed rights. Faced with the precarious situation and reduced prospects of these professionals, the government and the National Federation of Domestic Workers (Fenatrad) launched, this Tuesday 30th), in Brasília (DF), an action that will qualify domestic workers in Brazil.
Initially, the project, which is called “Thousand Women: Domestic Work and Care”, will offer 900 places in professional training courses aimed at female workers in the municipalities of Aracaju, Salvador, São Luís, São Paulo, Recife, Mesquita (RJ ) and Nilópolis (RJ). The government informed that the first classes of the course in Bahia and Rio de Janeiro will take place in April, with the right to transportation and food assistance.
One of those enrolled in the training course, and who was present at the launch of the project, was domestic worker Ivi Souza. “I signed up for the elderly care course because it is already something I do in my practice, on a daily basis. And having more training through this course will make my work even more valuable,” she said. She considers the activity to be very poorly paid. “Society needs to be changed by complying with the laws.” The government understands that students’ learning must take into account the professionals’ prior knowledge.
Luiza Batista said she hopes that the initiative does not just remain as a “pilot project”. This concern was also highlighted by the general coordinator of the National Federation of Domestic Workers (Fenatrad), Luiza Batista. She stated that the activity has historical roots in slavery and, therefore, Brazilian society does not value the profession. “We are pressing this button, that this project continues, for the public policy it represents.”
Minister Wellington Dias, of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger, agreed that a care policy is necessary. “Don’t think it’s just going to stay here, it’s for real, it’s going to be something powerful.” He said that a term for this area of training was signed with the Ministry of Education. “We have the ability, in each of the states of Brazil, to work on a plan that allows us to guarantee a mega qualification plan.”
The government explained that the initiative primarily seeks to serve women who are in a situation of social and economic vulnerability, in a context of poverty and extreme poverty, with low or no schooling, responsible for personal and domestic care and victims of violence, observing inequalities intersections of class, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, life course, territory and disability.
