Catadores de materiais recicláveis: cadeia produtiva e precariedade

• Main Authors: Bruno Otávio Arantes, Livia de Oliveira Borges
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 2013-12-01
• Series: Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicologia
• Subjects: Collector´s recyclable materials; Documental research; Work market
• Online Access: http://pepsic.bvsalud.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-52672013000300002&lng=pt&nrm=iso&tlng=pt

In the Brazilian labor market, there are sectors in which remains a series of precarious jobs including scavenging for recyclables. This research planned to identify the productive chain of recycling and the challenges of those working conditions, to situate the activity of picking in the work market and to understand this activity. The research was developed through documental research, participant observation and a sociodemographic questionnaire was administered as well. Among the results, the following aspects were observed: the recycling supply chain favors the flattening of the materials price and individuals income; there is still a very incipient use of technologies; the pickers are exposed to extended work shifts and to risks to their health; and among the workers predominate low education and income levels. The results point to the maintenance of the cycle of activity in disrepair.