Contratos de boca: a institucionalização da precariedade na construção civil

Abstract

Este artigo analisa a percepção de operários da construção de edificações sobre o contexto de vulnerabilidade social, marcado pela precarização crescente dos contratos de trabalho. Foram entrevistados vinte trabalhadores da cidade de São Carlos (Brasil), recuperando suas trajetórias de trabalho. Por meio da análise qualitativa das entrevistas, foi possível verificar a vulnerabilidade e as formas variadas de contratos de trabalho e de remuneração. Apesar da precariedade das relações de trabalho, metade dos trabalhadores afirma estar realizada profissionalmente na ocupação desempenhada, enquanto a outra metade se percebe diminuída perante a sociedade pela falta de estudo, ou se identifica com as outras profissões exercidas anteriormente, vendo a construção como uma etapa passageira ou como a ultima opção que lhes restou.

Economic changes and the meanings of work and money

“…Although the scores for physical effort and dehumanization (TD1) were significantly lower, as opposed to what was predicted, we observed that when we constructed the descriptive attributes hierarchy, TD1 moved from the fourth level of the hierarchy in 2011, to level one in 2015, along with recognition and fair treatment. We understood that those results match our prediction for a conformist tendency on the workers' part when perceiving work on a daily basis (Barros & Mendes, 2003;Cockell & Perticarrari, 2010).…”

“…As discussed previously, in the workers' case, these conditions are closely associated with fending for both themselves and their families (Cockell, 2008;Silva & Borges, 2015). The lack of these conditions, which is exacerbated by the economic crisis, affects basic needs directly, since the workers find themselves within the bounds of social exclusion (Cockell & Perticarrari, 2010;Santos, 2010).…”

“…Considering the present context, being able to keep a job and provide financially for both individual and family basic needs might somehow be considered a privilege and, in this sense, the perception of money as something pleasurable is significant. By the same token, being employed means favoring solidarity with coworkers who are in more precarious situations or live with greater social vulnerability, as pointed out by Cockell (2008) and Cockell and Perticarrari (2010), a fact that reinforces the transcendent aspects attributed to money.…”

“…Pochmann (2015) noted in the same year a 54.3% increase in unemployment. This fact has directly affected the lives of workers, either by making it difficult to find suitable work in other sectors of the economy, or by increasing financial instability and the fragility of labor rights found in the informality and subcontracting to which the workers are subjected (Cockell & Perticarrari, 2010).…”