PROGER URBANO: EFEITOS SOBRE A GERAÇÃO DE EMPREGOS E IMPLICAÇÕES PARA A POLÍTICA PÚBLICA DE EMPREGO

Abstract

The Proger (National Programme of Employment and Income), implemented in Brazil in 1994/95, coupled with the Unemployment Benefit Scheme and the Planfor (National Labour Power Training Programme) – respectively implemented in 1986 and 1995 – constitute the core of the Brazilian public employment policies system. This paper is devoted to analysing Proger with focus on the execution of the Programme in the Northeastern state of Pernambuco. The fact that in the country as a whole a total of about R$ 9.6 billion has been spent via Proger since January 1995 (update in December 1999) makes clear the importance that the federal government attributes to the programme. This paper, by using administrative data and information gathered via field work, not only reinforces and illustrates critical aspects pointed out by previous studies; it also brings about new questions with basis on more realistic estimates of employment creation and the associated average employment cost, among other relevant results. The paper calls attention to the need of important changes in the programme if the context of insufficient economic growth and the present transformations in the Brazilian labour market are taken into account.