O neoliberalismo e as condições de trabalho das mulheres na indústria têxtil e de confecções brasileira

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between neoliberalism and the working conditions of women in the Brazilian textile and garment industry, considering their integration into global value chains and the International Division of Labor. It is based on the assumption that global productive restructuring has intensified the relocation of labor-intensive activities such as sewing, gluing, and dyeing to countries in the Global South, such as Brazil, where these activities are characterized by low wages, informality, and labor flexibilization. Women represent the majority of the workforce in the Garment, Textile, and Footwear (GTF) sector; however, their predominant presence remains concentrated in precarious positions, with lower pay and limited access to leadership roles. The research adopts an exploratory and qualitative approach and was conducted through documentary analysis of institutional reports. The findings reveal the persistence of structural gender inequalities, aggravated by the double burden of paid and unpaid reproductive labor. It is concluded that the neoliberal model, articulated with global production chains, reinforces the exploitation of female labor as a cost-reduction strategy, highlighting the need for public policies and regulatory mechanisms that promote gender equity and better working conditions in the Brazilian textile sector.