FLEXIBILIZAÇÃO DO MERCADO DE TRABALHO: O BRASIL JÁ FEZ

Abstract

This paper shows the effects of flexibility in labor relations on employment generation, income distribution and capital-labor ne- gotiation. It foccuses on the brazilian scene. Brazilian labor market has changed a lot during the last three decades. During sixties and seventies, employment creation was associated with income growth, and the gap between low and high wages widened. The eighties we- re recession years, with low job creation rate, worsening of job qua- lity and increased difference between low and highly paid workers. At that time, the new labor union movement was born and got a strong organizational structure. During the nineties, technological and organizational change took place within the majority of large companies, shifting the negotiation process to the shop floor level requiring new types of managerial and labor union expertise. The paper concludes sheding doubts on the cost-benefit result of creati- on of poor quality jobs versus worsening of income distribution