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Recent data released by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and the São Paulo Construction Industry Union (SindusCon-SP) demonstrated a drop in the number of labourers being contracted in the Brazilian real estate sector.  With a 0.62 percent reduction of new positions in the marketplace, the sector had 3.124 million employed workers nationally at the close of November 2011.

The north east was the only region to register an increase with 1,638 new employment positions created (a 0.25 percent rise) – central west Brazil’s statistic fell the highest (-2.41 with 5,990 jobs lost in the month) followed by the north (-0.88 percent), the south east (-0.77 percent) and the south (-0.27 percent)

According to Sergio Watanabe of SindusCon-SP: “the drop was higher than what was registered in November 2010 (-0.07 percent) but less than that of November 2008, during the initial stages of the crisis (-0.90 percent).  This serves to demonstrate that the market is moving back to a more normal rhythm, far from the overheating that was seen in 2009 when the November employment rate increased by 0.94 percent.”  The union also commented that the reduction has occurred due to the termination of many developments.

The news comes on the back on the growing amount dissatisfaction on building sites across Brazil mainly related to low wages, poor working conditions, a lack of transport facilities and respect for health & safety.  In the third week of January 2012 alone, developments have needed to be halted in Piauí (where 10,000 workers went on strike); Salvador (reigniting tensions after previous strikes in March 2011); Suzano in São Paulo (see this YouTube video link) and on an Odebrecht hydro-electric plant project in Paranaíta, Mato Grosso.  Please also see the news bulletin below exposing salary payment delays and poor working conditions of a social housing project in Itaquaquecetuba (São Paulo), recorded in November 2011: