Brazilian Labor Justice Faces Critical Challenges Amid Supreme Court Ruling and Work Precarization

Labor rights defense in Brazil is under significant threat, with judicial and societal challenges intensifying amid changing work dynamics. Journalist Leonardo Sakamoto, co-author with Carlos Juliano Barros of the upcoming book "O que os Coaches Não te Contam Sobre o Futuro do Trabalho," highlights pressing issues including the rise of precarious work forms such as pejotização, where workers register as companies to circumvent labor protections. This practice erodes benefits traditionally safeguarded by the Constitution.

Sakamoto warns about the forthcoming Supreme Federal Court ruling on topic 1389, which will define the jurisdiction of labor courts over cases involving fraudulent employment relationships. The decision could profoundly influence workers’ ability to access justice and maintain labor rights, potentially emptying the Labour Court’s effectiveness if it restricts their scope.

The book launch, scheduled for São Paulo and Brasília, addresses various labor violations such as child labor, modern slavery, and gender discrimination, alongside these new challenges exacerbated by false notions of entrepreneurship promoted in today’s work culture. Sakamoto also critiques the media for often neglecting their perspective as workers themselves, which leads to insufficient empathy for labor struggles.

He underscores the necessity of worker mobilization and digital organization to protect rights and counteract the acceleration of workforce exploitation caused by new technologies and gig economy models. Sakamoto's analysis frames labor justice as a critical battleground for ensuring protections against an expanding wave of precarious work.