As reformas (des)necessárias

Crises econômicas e reformas trabalhistas no Brasil contemporâneo

Abstract

Labor reforms, in neoliberal society, are seen as the necessary antidote to contain crises. However, crises do not appear to be temporary. Growing social exclusion generates cycles of new crises and reforms. Measures to make labor rights more flexible are considered, by neoliberal discourse, as essential for the survival of the nation-state, which is held hostage by economic power. Aimless and with their rights and guarantees threatened, the individual flirts with authoritarian policies that even put democracy in check. This article aims to reflect on this recurring process of labor crises and reforms from the contemporary Brazilian conjuncture. For this, we adopted the literature review of authors such as Luc Boltanski, Ève Chiapello, Pierre Dardot, Christian Laval and Guy Standing. Secondary data were also quantitatively analyzed to understand some effects of the main legislative changes that took place between 2015 and 2020 in Brazil. The results suggest, among other things, that the reforms adopted in the period did not produce the expected effect, on the contrary, there was an increase in unemployment and the precariousness of labor relations.