Territórios do trabalho informal: dinâmicas e desigualdades no comércio ambulante de João Pessoa-PB

Abstract

Informal work is not only a means of survival for millions of Brazilians today but also a determining factor in the territorial configurations of society. This intertwining between work and territory is understood here through street trade, popularly known as street vending. Focusing on the city of João Pessoa, in the state of Paraíba, this study aimed to analyze the different experiences of vulnerability among street vendors, comparing different territorial zones of the city. Three main zones of activity for these workers were identified: the city center, the coastal strip, and the areas surrounding major municipal events that occur periodically. The first two groups face the consequences of operating illegally according to local legislation, while the latter are the only ones recognized by the Municipal Code of Postures (1995) as a regular activity. All of them are exposed to the consequences of the lack of social protection at work, which is replaced by non-state arrangements aimed at mitigating various forms of social vulnerability. This research was carried out between 2021 and 2024, in the post-pandemic period. Methodological procedures included ethnography, interviews, and questionnaires designed to outline the profiles of these workers and their work practices in relation to the zones in which they operate.