Entities that make up the Port Workers' Forum met at the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor) last Thursday (March 12) for the group's 17th meeting. At the gathering, relevant topics for the sector were discussed, such as the start of activities of the Gender Equity Working Group (GT), workplace safety, inclusion and diversity in ports, and policies related to hiring models in the sector.
The meeting also featured participation from representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE) and the Public Labor Ministry (MPT), who presented initiatives and discussed the agencies' actions on labor demands in Brazilian ports.
During the event, the coordinator of the Gender Equity Working Group and executive manager of the National Federation of Port Operations (Fenop), Maria Cristina Dutra, presented to Forum members a summary of the Working Group's first meeting, held earlier in the month, and highlighted the main issues raised, including the need to conduct a survey on the number of women working in Brazilian ports.
According to Maria Cristina Dutra, the group's meeting was productive and represented an important step in broadening dialogue on women's participation in the sector. "The meeting was extremely productive. We managed to advance in the approval of the internal regulations and have already begun building our work plan," she emphasized.
Representatives of the entities also highlighted the positive feedback from the Working Group and the importance of the initiative in broadening debate on women's presence in port activities. For Fenop's president, Sérgio Aquino, the creation and management of the Working Group represent an important advance in broadening discussion on gender equity in the port sector and strengthening women's participation in dialogue spaces. "We congratulate the group's work and wish to place on record our recognition for the work developed and for Cristina Dutra's coordination, who has conducted this process with great dedication," he noted.
Workplace safety
Topics related to workplace safety, inclusion and diversity in the sector, as well as policies aimed at developing hiring models, were also discussed. The meeting also featured participation from an MTE representative, who presented how the agency works on inspection and monitoring of labor demands in ports across the country.
During the presentation, emphasis was placed on the importance of port administrations providing adequate spaces within port facilities for the operation and accommodation of inspectors. The Ministry also offered its support to conduct lectures and guidance initiatives aimed at port workers and managers.
Representatives of union entities also stressed the importance of strengthening the presence of inspection in ports, noting that increasing the number of auditors can contribute to monitoring sector activities and promoting increasingly safer working environments.
The MPT was also present, represented by labor prosecutor Alexandre Marin Ragagnin, who reinforced the importance of promoting safe working environments prepared to receive and forward complaints or demands related to working conditions. "It is important that we look after the working environment and we put ourselves at your disposal. We have specific projects on these topics and can contribute," said the prosecutor.
Source: https://www.gov.br/portos-e-aeroportos/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/2026/03/forum-dos-trabalhadores-portuarios-debate-equidade-de-genero-seguranca-e-condicoes-de-trabalho-no-setor
