Ageism already totals at least 3,400 actions in Labor Justice, says survey
Discrimination based on age, known as ageism, has led to nearly 3,500 legal actions in Brazil's Labor Court system.
Ageism, the discrimination based on age, has become a significant issue in Brazil, with recent studies revealing that there are at least 3,490 legal actions related to this form of discrimination within the Labor Justice system. The research conducted by the Almeida Prado Hoffmann law firm showed that 1,400 cases were filed in the Superior Labor Court, while another 2,090 cases were cited in the Regional Labor Court of the 2nd Region in São Paulo. These statistics indicate a rising trend of legal disputes pertaining to dismissals and discriminatory practices aimed at older workers.
Sérgio Pelcerman, the attorney behind the study, highlights that ageism often manifests indirectly rather than through explicit declarations. He mentions that it tends to emerge in patterns of layoffs and organizational restructuring that disproportionately affect older professionals. Common justifications for such dismissals often include terms like "modernizing the team," "renewal," or "cost reduction," which raises questions about the fairness of these practices in the workforce.
While Brazilian legislation does not specifically mention the term 'ageism,' it does provide legal protection against discrimination based on age under Law 9.029/1995. This law prohibits discriminatory practices in the workplace and signals the evolving recognition of ageism as a significant societal issue, urging for a review of employment practices and protections for older workers in an increasingly age-diverse labor market.