Brazilian entrepreneurs participating in a meeting, last week, with the presidential candidates, organized by the National Industry Confederation (CNI), have called for flexible labor laws, a tax reform and the reduction of bureaucracy.
The candidates invited were those that ranked best in the voting intention polls: Eduardo Campos (PSB), Aécio Neves (PSDB) and Dilma Rousseff (PT). The confederation handed them 42 surveys with diagnoses and suggestions for industrial development.
As assessed by Elmir Marques Gonçalves Filho, executive coordinator of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rondônia (Fiero), the most crucial part of the debate was the solutions presented alongside deadlines.
In his view, one of the most relevant issues when it comes to industry is the promotion of flexibility in labor relations. “We don’t want the workers’ achievements to be played down. Rather, we want the courts to endorse whatever comes as a result of the negotiations with the workers,” he noted.
The businessman also endorsed the expansion of activities that may be outsourced. “It’s really strict. Suppose you own a construction company. There are works going on, and rain put the progress behind the schedule. You can’t hire an outsourced company to help follow the schedule. Today, outsourcing the target activity is not allowed,” he remarked.
Flexibility is also viewed as crucial by Cláudio Bier, vice-president of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs). “The main focus is given to the labor relations. It’s been tough for companies, especially medium- and small-scale ones,” he argued.
Bier further pointed out that the bureaucracy, in his view, is “dazzling”. He believes all three candidates did well in the assembly. “All three of them, in my opinion, showed great knowledge about the topics.”
As highlighted by Sebastião Guerreiro, president of the Textile Union of the City of Manaus, the tax reform and the subject of labor relations are the main measures expected from the next president. “The tax reform is key to achieving something equivalent to the level of tax collection in the US and Mexico,” he stated.
