Port Workers Forum debates gender equity, safety and working conditions in the sector

Entities that make up the Port Workers Forum met at the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), last Thursday (12), for the group’s 17th meeting. At the meeting, topics relevant to the sector were discussed, such as the beginning of the activities of the Gender Equality Working Group (GT), workplace safety, inclusion and diversity in ports and policies related to hiring models in the sector.

The meeting also included the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) and the Public Ministry of Labor (MPT), who presented initiatives and discussed the agencies’ actions in labor demands at Brazilian ports.

During the event, the coordinator of the Gender Equity GT and executive manager of the National Federation of Port Operations (Fenop), Maria Cristina Dutra, presented to the Forum members an overview of the GT’s first meeting, held at the beginning of the month, and highlighted the main issues raised, including the need to carry out a survey on the number of women working in Brazilian ports.

According to Maria Cristina Dutra, the group meeting was productive and represented an important step towards expanding the dialogue on female participation in the sector. “The meeting was extremely productive. We managed to make progress in approving the internal regulations and have already started building the work plan”, he highlighted.

Representatives of the entities also highlighted the positive feedback from the GT and the importance of the initiative to expand the debate on the presence of women in port activities. For the president of Fenop, Sérgio Aquino, the creation and conduct of the GT represent an important step forward in expanding the debate on gender equity in the port sector and strengthening women’s participation in spaces for dialogue. “We congratulate the group’s performance and want to record our recognition for the work carried out and the coordination of Cristina Dutra, who has led this process with great dedication”, he pointed out.

Work safety
Topics related to workplace safety, inclusion and diversity in the sector were also discussed, as well as policies aimed at developing hiring models. The meeting also included the participation of a representative from the MTE, who presented how the body operates in supervising and monitoring labor demands in the country’s ports.

During the presentation, the importance of port administrations providing adequate spaces on port premises for the work and accommodation of inspectors was highlighted. The Ministry also made itself available to hold lectures and guidance actions aimed at port workers and managers.

Representatives of trade unions also highlighted the importance of strengthening the presence of inspection at ports, highlighting that increasing the number of auditors can contribute to monitoring the sector’s activities and promoting increasingly safer working environments.

The MPT was also present, represented by labor attorney Alexandre Marin Ragagnin, who reinforced the importance of promoting safe working environments prepared to receive and forward complaints or demands related to working conditions. “It is important that we take care of the work environment and make ourselves available. We have specific projects on these topics and we can add them”, stated the prosecutor.

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