Laws should accompany the evolution of the economy

Labor legislation is of vital importance to guaranteeing the rights of workers and regulating the relations between employee and employer. However, the laws presently in force in Brazil were created in the nineteen fifties when the economic context and the country's development were at different levels from today and they no longer propitiate a favorable environment for the development of companies as the document 'Growth; Industry's View" clearly shows.

Against a background of accelerated globalization, the productive sector needs to increase its competitiveness in order to guarantee jobs, salaries and the growth of economic activity. That is why CNI considers that modernizing labor legislation is indispensable in order to reduce the rigidity that encases labor relations, inhibits investment and above all, hinders the adaptations imposed on companies by the global economic environment.

CNI considers that Brazil needs to update its labor legislation to encourage alternative modalities for contracting labor, reducing tax burdens and opening the way for free negotiation as ways of reducing the growing incidence of non-formal employment in the labor market.

This issue is one of CNI’s action priorities and mobilizes the greater part of the attention of the Standing Committee on Labor Relations and Social Development (CRT).

In addition to defending the updating of laws, CNI is active in projects for combating child labor, promoting equality of opportunity and promoting health and safety in the workplace whilst at the same time defending the agenda of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in favor of Decent Work.