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Article

10 Feb 2020

Author:
Tula Connell, Equal Times

Brazil: Gender violence & discrimination in garment factories is widespread, study finds

“Gender violence study in Brazilian garment factory provides a ‘wake up call to action’”, 3 February 2020

The vast majority of Brazilian textile and shoe factory workers…have experienced some form of [workplace] violence…, often gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). "[F]or many women, work is synonymous with suffering”, [uncovers] the…[Promoting Human Rights and Strengthening Trade Union Action and Equality in the Brazilian Clothing Sector Report]. 246 women workers took part in…[the] study...

Bullying often is directed toward union leaders, the report finds, with female union leaders closely watched by supervisors, who also harass and even fire workers who talk with them. The survey shows that gender violence often is mixed with other types of violence and discrimination, making Afro-Brazilian women, LGBTQI+ workers and others especially vulnerable... 

Women workers…stressed the importance of collective agreements to improve working conditions,…the report recommend[ing]…unions negotiate clauses to combat [workplace] bullying and sexual harassment. Women often fear reporting sexual harassment [because sometimes]…”they have no one to whom to bring the complaint because the supervisor is also the perpetrator”. In June, the [ILO] adopted the world’s first global standard on violence and harassment at work…

Women who are mothers…also face discrimination...