Epidemiological Surveillance of Informal Workers' Health in Two Cities in Southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Informal labor markets have grown in peripheral countries, accounting for more than 50% of jobs. There is anecdotal evidence of a direct relation between informal sector growth and an increase in the frequency and severity of work-related diseases and injuries. Two sister pilot projects were conducted in Uberaba and Campinas, Brazil to develop population-based epidemiological surveillance of workplace injuries in the informal sector. Results for Campinas and Uberaba found cumulative yearly incidences of 5.1% and 10.4%, with incidence rates of 2.2 and 6.5 injuries per 100,000 worked hours, respectively. The proportions of lost work time were 0.3% and 0.31%. Rates found were comparable to those found in the literature for both formal and informal jobs. These results suggest that bad working conditions in the formal labor market are replicated in the informal market as subcontracting and outsourcing contribute to the growth of informal jobs.

Towards an Inclusive Occupational Health and Safety For Informal Workers

“…Limited attention has been given to different occupational hazards related to different sectors of informal work. 11–14 In informal workplaces, chemical hazards, dust, noise, and musculoskeletal disorder problems are commonly observed. 15 In the Americas, a review of the literature found an increased risk for minor mental disorders among women working informally, 11,16,17 particularly for young domestic workers and waste pickers, regardless of sex or age.…”

“…20 In Brazil, several studies fail to show differences concerning fatal or nonfatal work injuries between informal and formal workers. 13,21 In contrast, findings from industrialized countries demonstrate that fatal and serious nonfatal injuries occur more often among workers holding precarious jobs than their counterparts. 2…”