Obstáculos enfrentados pelo pescador artesanal no sistema previdenciário brasileiro: estudo de caso de uma marisqueira paraibana na luta por direitos

Abstract

This paper addresses the obstacles faced by artisanal fishers in their struggle to access their social security rights in Brazil. The main objective of this research is to examine, in this specific case, the obstacles to accessing these rights and how strategies used by the Brazilian social security system influence the increase in violence and social exclusion among artisanal fishers. Initially, through a bibliographic and legislative survey, the research explores the historical, social, and legal context of artisanal fishing in Brazil, addressing key moments, such as the recognition of this category as special insured persons under the General Social Security Regime (RGPS), highlighting the progress made since then and, especially, the challenges faced. To portray this challenging scenario, the monograph begins with a case study of Mariana (fictitious name), a shellfish gatherer from the city of Pitimbu, Paraíba, whose journey highlights the various barriers imposed on those who, like her, work informally in traditional communities and fight for the recognition of their rights. Therefore, this is a qualitative and exploratory study, with bibliographic and documentary analysis and a concrete case study of Mariana.The study is analyzed through accounts, interviews, and documents collected and also provided by research and extension groups at the Federal University of Paraíba, which have been monitoring the shellfish gatherer in this social security context. From this, it becomes possible to understand the strategies used to deny rights within the Brazilian social security system, how the justice system has been handling the situation, and how this has impacted the lives of affected workers, such as the barriers imposed to proving special insured status and the frequent humiliations during medical evaluations.