(Re)-Constructing Citizenship: The Programa Integrar of the Brazilian Metalworkers' Union

Abstract

This paper presents an initiative by the Brazilian Metalworkers Union, the Centro Nacional de Metalurgicos, which seeks to integrate vocational training with the construction of a new citizenship that represents a radical departure from the corporatist legacy of 'regulated citizenship'. The programme incorporates a strategic vision of the construction of citizenship of the workers through intervention in the development of public policy, principally in relation to policies concerning the creation of work, wealth and education, and in the unions' role in their negotiation. The Programa Integrar transcends the traditional Latin American adult education paradigms of human resource training and popular education, and it is argued that it is an example of an integrated education and training for civil society.

National Human Resource Development in Transitioning Societies in the Developing World: Brazil

“…One primary obstacle to successful implementation of such a strategy has to do with the significant inequalities that exist in the country. As indicated earlier, these inequalities are largely urban-rural, geographical, and racial in nature (Derqui, 2001;Fischer & Hannah, 2002;Goldman, 2001;Heyneman, 2001;Martins et al, 2004).…”

“…From the 1930s, education policy has alternated between federal centralization of schools and decentralized local and regional control (Derqui, 2001). Several authors in Brazil noted concern with the resulting stratification of educational access and quality along class and racial lines (Derqui, 2001;Fischer & Hannah, 2002;Heyneman, 2001;Martins, Medeiros, & Nascimento, 2004).…”

“…Participation by NGOs in the HRD process in Brazil reveals approaches that are not often used in North America such as job skill training performed by trade unions (Fischer & Hannah, 2002) and community development and literacy training performed by race-centered political organizations. These organizations have stepped into a gap in the delivery of educational programs left by traditional educational organizations and tend to focus on more easily transferable rather than organization-specific skills (Beato, 2004).…”

“…The most critical factor in favor of the effective development of an NHRD strategy is the recognition of the need for such a comprehensive strategy (Fischer & Hannah, 2002;Heyneman, 2001;McIntyre, 2002). Several authors have noted the inequality of educational opportunities and have proposed potential solutions.…”

“…Recognizing the strong influence that these MNCs have on the training and development of its citizens, the government has begun to actively engage with them in identifying needs and developing employee skills (Opengart & Short, 2002;Sparkes & Miyake, 2000). Trade unions have similarly come to recognize their role in ensuring the existence of critical skills outside of specific company needs and have begun to address these more general labor force requirements (Fischer & Hannah, 2002). Likewise, a number of political organizations have come forward to address training needs of particular ethnic and community constituencies (Beato, 2004).…”