Quality of Workers' Care Better in Brazil, study shows

A study finds that Brazilian workers are better taken care of than American workers. Duh! I figured out the same thing when my husband first told me he had a month off work. I wondered if he had quit and was lying to me. That or was sleeping with the boss. Either way, beach trip!

But it turns out that legally working Brazilians do have a right to vacation time, an entire month of it! Not only that, if their job follows the law, the company has to pay them a paycheck and a half that month.

Hi, my name is Rachel and I would like a job in Brazil!

The first example in the Globo was a comparison between the fast food industries. The American McDonalds workers do not get holidays, healthcare, or welfare. That last one was translated and I am not quite sure what they mean by it. I'm guessing that it means they have to eat the food and without healthcare their basic welfare is shot to hell.

But there is some truth to this study. If you have a job where your Brazilian workbook is signed, you have some serious rights! You have a decent maternity leave, vacation time, sick time, sometimes healthcare (although they do have a public one in place), and many other safeguards. You can even get your lunches and transportation to work paid!

I think Reagan just rolled over in his grave.

And while not a perfect system, workers' rights are strong enough that some feel the need to protect themselves from their employees. For example, you can fill out paperwork stating that your home is the only place you have to live. Seems a bit odd, right? Well, if you do not pay your maid correctly she can take you to court. They will assume your assets, including you home, until things have been figured out. Keep in mind that this is in extreme cases but this document will save you from having to vacate your property.

All this comes from the fact that many Brazilian workers have been mistreated for many years. The workers came together, creating unions, and fought for their rights. Hell, they have mandatory extra pay for Sundays! Brazilian workers said "screw you, we don't want to count hours, you give us the day!" And they did.

Regardless, pat on the back to worker unions everywhere! And an extra pinch of the cheek to the Brazilian ones, you guys did good.

Santa Teresa "occupation" scheduled for Monday

I read on Twitter, via Jornal do Brasil, that the Bope is going to go into Santa Teresa favelas on Monday as part of the plan to take Rio back.  

What's with the warning?  

While people would like to think that drug traffickers aren't sophisticated enough to be following the Jornal do Brasil on Twitter, much less knowing how to use a computer in the first place, it's just not the case. Hell, we all know about the famous trafficker who had a deep respect for the artist known as Justin Bieber.  This only proves that traffickers are crazy people with their fingers in the randomest of pies. 

So why in the hell is the mayor sharing his upcoming plans? Would it not make far more sense for them to keep their mouths shut and, I don't know, sneak in and surprise people?

I think there's one of two options going on here.  First, the Government and traffickers are tired. They just feel it's better to play ball with each other. Government gives them a warning, traffickers run away, government "takes over" the favela, and everyone is happy.  No harm, no shooting. 

The other option is that the Bope is going black ops on our asses and will be sneaking in earlier or later. They will pop in at 1145pm on Sunday night and catch the traffickers unexpectedly. I mean, it would totally work. No one in Brazil shows up early for a party. It would be completely unexpected.  

Honestly though, the real business between the government, police, and traffickers is one we are not privy to. 

Personally, I think they all get together after the fact, drink fresh made Brazilian coffee, do lines of cocaine, and rock out to a little Bieber. 

But what do I know? I'm just one of the little sheep.