1. Labor Relations in South American Countries Presented by: Nicole Cleven Rachel Mathis Ashley Hetcher Erin Gibson LIR 554: Comparative Employment Relations Systems 9/9/2008

2. Basic Brazil Capital: Brasília Chile Capital: Santiago Ecuador Capital: Quito

3. Brazil: Currency: Brazilian Real =.595 US Dollars GDP per capita: $9,700 Population: 191,908,598 people Labor force: 99.47 million people Language: Portuguese Main Export/Import: Crude Oil, Iron Ore, and Soy Products / Computer Accessories, Aircraft, Plastic Economic Overview

4. Chile: Currency: 1 Chilean Peso =.00195 US Dollars GDP per capita: $13,900 Population: 16,454,143 people Labor force: 6.97 million people Language: Spanish Main Export / Import: Copper, Fruit, Fish, Wine / Aircraft, Fuel Oil, Computer Accessories

5. Economic Overview Ecuador: Currency: US Dollar GDP per capita: $7,200 Population: 13,927,650 people Labor force: 4.51 million people (urban) Language: Spanish Main Export / Import: Petroleum, Bananas, Cut Flowers, Shrimp, Coffee / Industrial Materials, Fuels and Lubricants, Nondurable Consumer Goods

6. Comparison CurrencyGDP per capita PopulationLabor Force LanguageUnemploy- ment Rate Brazil1 Real = $0.595 $9,700191,908,59899.47 million Portuguese9.6% Chile1000 Pesos = $1.95 $13,90016,454,1436.97 million Spanish7.8% EcuadorU.S. Dollar$7,20013,927,6504.51 million (urban) Spanish10% U.S.Dollar$45,800303,824,640151 million English4.6%

7. Your Turn Guess which one of these Companies is the best to work for in Brazil: The Great Places to Work Institute: http://www.greatplacetowork.com/best/list-bestusa.htm

8. Your Turn Guess which of these companies is the best to work for in Chile: The Great Places to Work Institute: http://www.greatplacetowork.com/best/list-bestusa.htm

9. Your Turn Guess which of these companies is the best to work for in Ecuador: The Great Places to Work Institute: http://www.greatplacetowork.com/best/list-bestusa.htm

10. What’s Happening Now Brazil: The current racial inequality is not consistent across all socio-economic classes, and there still exists a large racial gap favoring whites in almost all classes Chile: Michelle Bachlet is currently spurring a cultural and political revolution in Chile, breaking through the “male ceiling” in the labor market and government while bringing sexual harassment and physical abuse issues to light Ecuador: The unemployment rate is still at 10%, which has resulted in a very competitive labor market for skilled workers, and very little options for the unskilled workforce, resulting in an unsettled middle class and high levels of child labor abuse.

11. Ecuador and Labor Issues Unions did not exist until 1930, and between 1950 and 1973, a total of 3,093 unions were established Ecuador Confederation of Free Trade Union Organizations is the biggest union in Ecuador In 2002, there were 3.7 million employed wage earners in urban areas In 2002, only 12% were affiliated with a union organization The Ecuadorian government has a framework around legal work weeks (40 hrs.), child labor laws (boys under 12 and girls are 14), health and safety standards, and minimum wage ($118/month)

12. Chile and Labor Issues Chile’s unionization efforts developed slowly until the 1930s, when the labor force became a political force The Central Union of Chilean Workers is the largest labor confederation As of 2002, 10% were affiliated with a union organization Their government structure allows for a annually adjusted minimum wage ($157/month), and has parameters around strikes, legal work weeks (48 hrs.), and child labor laws (15 yrs.)

13. Brazil and Labor Issues Brazil’s unionization structure was created after 1930, based off the structure of Italy and Portugal 20-30% of the labor force is currently affiliated with a union organization The largest union federation in Brazil are Workers’ Unitary Central, the Workers’ General Confederation, and the Forca Sindical Their government structure allows for a annually adjusted minimum wage ($85/month), and has parameters around strikes, legal work-weeks (44 hrs.), safety regulations, and child labor laws (16yrs)