On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, a significant wave of protests swept across Brazil as labor judges and union members rallied in defense of the Labor Court's authority to adjudicate cases involving "pejotização," a term used to describe the practice of hiring workers as independent contractors through individual companies. The protests were organized by various labor organizations, including Sintrajufe/RS and CUT/RS, and took place in major cities such as Porto Alegre, Pelotas, Santa Maria, and Taquara.
In Porto Alegre, over 300 individuals gathered at a public event, demonstrating a strong collective voice against recent judicial decisions that threaten workers' rights. This mobilization was part of a broader national initiative aimed at safeguarding the constitutional competencies of the Labor Court amidst growing concerns about labor reforms and their implications for workers.
The backdrop to these protests is the alarming rise in the number of self-employed workers in Brazil, which has nearly doubled from 2018 to 2023. This increase, often referred to as "pejotização," has led to greater vulnerability and precarious working conditions for many, a situation exacerbated by labor reforms initiated during the administrations of former presidents Michel Temer and Jair Bolsonaro.
Rogério Ávila, director of Sintrajufe/RS, expressed serious concerns about the potential impact of these reforms on Social Security, warning that a drastic drop in revenue could jeopardize retirement benefits. "If there is a brutal drop in revenue, it can make retirement obsolete," he stated during the protests.
In Pelotas, demonstrators gathered in front of the Labor Court, where union leaders, judges, and attorneys voiced their fears regarding the ongoing attacks on the Labor Court's authority. Paulo Farias, the secretary of Culture for CUT/RS, emphasized the need for continued activism, asserting that the only way to halt the erosion of workers' rights is to sustain pressure on the federal government to revoke the labor reforms.
Lair de Mattos, president of the Food Industry Workers' Union in Pelotas, highlighted the connection between the agribusiness sector and the prevalence of labor exploitation in the country. He urged collective action among workers to prevent further tragedies in the labor market, stating, "The labor movement must take strong action, and we need to unite to prevent this from happening; we cannot accept another tragedy for the working class."
In Santa Maria, the focus of the protest was on reinforcing the Labor Court's role as the competent authority to adjudicate employment disputes involving individual companies. Joselaine Turchielo Calegaro, a judge from Santa Maria, underscored that recognizing the Labor Court’s authority is essential for ensuring citizens' rights and fundamental guarantees as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Meanwhile, in Taquara, the mobilization took place in front of the Labor Court building, where local union representatives engaged in discussions about the risks associated with pejotização. Diogo Corrêa, director of Sintrajufe/RS, noted that the ongoing judicial decisions could undermine the Labor Court's ability to protect workers' rights, stating, "The Labor Court needs to be defended not just because it is our workplace, but for its role in social equalization, which is a victory for the working class."
The protests also reached the halls of Congress, where Senator Paulo Paim (PT-RS) addressed the Senate, reading a manifesto from various judicial and labor organizations criticizing Minister Gilmar Mendes’ recent decision to suspend processes questioning the legality of pejotização. Paim asserted, "The Labor Court is still the safe haven for workers in this country," recalling his own experiences as a union mediator who relied on the Labor Court for conflict resolution.
In Salvador, the Central dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras do Brasil (CTB) led protests, uniting judges and union leaders to advocate for the preservation of the Labor Court's authority. Rosa de Souza, president of CTB Bahia, reaffirmed the importance of mobilization in a country marked by inequality, stating, "It is crucial to guarantee basic rights for workers." Augusto Vasconcelos, Secretary of Labor, Employment, Income and Sport in Bahia, criticized the initiative to strip the Labor Court of its jurisdiction, calling it a grave threat to social rights and collective organization.
Throughout the day, various organizations, including the National Association of Labor Magistrates (Anamatra), the National Association of Labor Prosecutors (ANPT), and the Brazilian Association of Labor Lawyers (Abrat), held public events to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining the Labor Court's competencies. These organizations stressed that their mobilization is not a confrontation with the Supreme Court but rather an effort to highlight the detrimental effects of diminishing the Labor Court's authority.
Daniela Muller, president of Amatra, emphasized the necessity of reinforcing the Labor Court's role in safeguarding social rights, pointing out that the Supreme Court's decision could lead to significant social setbacks. "The erosion of the Labor Court's authority not only represents a serious setback in social protection but could also have substantial fiscal repercussions, as fraudulent practices directly affect revenue collections that sustain Social Security and other public policies," she warned.
The protests on May 7, 2025, were just the beginning of a national movement aimed at ensuring that the Labor Court retains its critical role in protecting the rights of workers across Brazil. As the situation develops, labor leaders and advocates continue to call for public awareness and engagement to safeguard the future of labor rights in the country.
