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In the Northeast, workers' fear of losing the Bolsa Família program is generating an unprecedented crisis in the agricultural sector. Entire harvests are under threat, while business owners are struggling to fill formal vacancies.
A silent and unprecedented crisis threatens to paralyze the agricultural sector in Brazil's Northeast, a region known for its vibrant production of fruits and crops such as cashew.
Behind the lush green fields and farms that sustain local economies, there is a stalemate that exposes the fragility of public policies: the refusal of workers to accept formal jobs with a signed employment contract, fearing losing the Bolsa Família benefit.
This phenomenon, which mixes economic and social dilemmas, has been generating a serious shortage of labor in states such as Pernambuco and Ceará.
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The problem not only damages entire crops, but also threatens the economy of thousands of families who depend on this seasonal activity.
Understand, below, how this situation reached this point and what is being done (or not being done) to avoid the worst.
The dilemma between Bolsa Família and formal work
At the heart of the problem is the fear of thousands of rural workers of losing their Family Bag, a federal benefit that guarantees R$600 per month to families in vulnerable situations.
For these people, a signed employment contract is seen not as a symbol of security, but as a risk.
Accepting formal employment means, for many, the suspension of the benefit that, for countless families, is vital.
According to industry experts, this perception has created an unprecedented bottleneck in hiring labor in the Northeast.
Agricultural companies face increasing difficulties in filling vacancies on farms, even when adequate working conditions are offered.
In the Petrolina Fruit Growing Hub, in Pernambuco, the situation is alarming: entire grape harvests are threatened by the lack of workers.
The dilemma is further aggravated by the fact that many workers see informal work as a safer alternative to continue receiving Bolsa Família, even though this practice is illegal and poses risks for both employees and employers.
Direct impacts on agricultural production
The labor shortage is already causing obvious damage. In states like Ceará, the labor sector cashew culture was severely affected.
The Agriculture and Livestock Federation of the State of Ceará (Faec) revealed that, this year, only half of the 20 thousand workers needed for the cashew harvest were hired.
The consequence is a drastic reduction in production, harming both small farmers and large producers.
According to data from Faec, many producers face significant losses due to not being able to harvest within the ideal timeframe.
This scenario could generate a domino effect throughout the regional economy, affecting industries, exports and income generation for local communities.
However, the problem is not limited to cashew farming. Other sectors, such as fruit and vegetable production, are also feeling the impacts of the crisis.
Companies that hire formal workers face difficulties in competing with informal workers, while trying to avoid penalties imposed by Ministry of Labor.
Mobilization of agricultural federations
Faced with this scenario, representatives of the agricultural sector intensified negotiations with the federal government.
One of the main proposals defended by the federations is the temporary relaxation of the Bolsa Família rules.
The idea would be to allow rural workers to carry out formal activities during seasonal periods without losing their benefits.
In Ceará, Faec held meetings with the state secretary of Labor, Vladyson Viana, to discuss possible solutions.
As reported by journalist Egídio Serpa, from Journal of Northeast, the conversations revolved around incentives to encourage workers to join formal employment, such as the creation of a specific temporary work program.
The proposal echoes previous experiences.
In other regions of Brazil, programs that allow formal ties without immediate harm to Bolsa Família have already been implemented with positive results.
However, the federal government has not yet officially signaled whether it is willing to apply a similar measure in the Northeast.
The federal government's omission
The government's silence has generated dissatisfaction among businesspeople, workers and industry leaders.
So far, no concrete response has been given regarding the possibility of adjustments to the Bolsa Família rules. The expectation for a solution, however, grows every day.
Journalist Egídio Serpa highlighted that the impasse is far from being just an agricultural issue. This is a problem that exposes the disconnect between social policies and the economic reality of regions such as the Northeast.
For producers, the lack of workers can mean that their operations are unviable.
For workers, the risk of losing Bolsa Família is a decisive factor that prevents them from accepting formal jobs.
Perspectives and possible solutions
While the federal government does not present a definitive response, agricultural federations continue to seek alternatives to avoid the collapse of the sector.
Proposals such as temporary work programs, tax incentives for employers and awareness campaigns for workers are seen as viable paths.
Furthermore, experts suggest that the government needs to adopt a more flexible approach, which allows it to balance the social protection of Bolsa Família with the demands of the labor market.
Without coordinated action, the Northeast runs the risk of facing a dangerous slowdown in agricultural production, with long-term impacts on the regional economy.
Bolsa Família or CLT: what now, government?
Time is against producers and rural workers in the Northeast.
While entire harvests are at risk of being lost, families face the dilemma of choosing between formal employment in the labor market or the security provided by Bolsa Família.
Faced with an impasse that threatens the future of thousands of people, the question remains: is the federal government prepared to act and prevent the crisis from worsening?
There was a lack of concrete reports from the sides involved.
Pay a decent wage and there will be no shortage of workers
The Bolsa Família is intended for families in precarious situations. If there are job offers and they do not want to work, the Bolsa Família is cut.
These job offers are only available during the harvest, 1,2, 1 or XNUMX months, earning XNUMX minimum wage, so they refuse.
They refuse because they are earning without working!
Why work if the government pays you to do nothing? It's the Bolsa Cabresto
I totally agree with you
The problem with this happening is a series of problems. Temporary work with a formal employment contract makes it difficult for the worker to accumulate at least 15 years as a special insured person; the minimum period for the farmer to guarantee his retirement. Let's say 6 months in formal employment and the other 6 months on the farm itself. It is difficult to obtain sick pay, maternity pay or even gather evidence to retire. The first thing the judge asks is why do you work with a formal employment contract and are you a farmer on your farm? How can the worker resolve this issue if the government does not protect or justify this situation? The Bolsa Família is a resource that the government provides for the less favored. The problem is not only the fear of losing the Bolsa Família. In reality, there are several issues behind this dilemma that the author describes. All of this is also, in a way, a cry that the businessmen decided to make, but in reality I believe that there are many things behind it that also represent discontent and disadvantage of the worker who generates the labor force.
Here we are talking about seasonal work, where the worker is still paid little and the family will live on what in the other months of the year, and that is where the family pocket comes in. We need to think about keeping the worker at other times of the year, not just during the harvest.