Social Representations of Haitian Immigrants about Labor in Brazil

Abstract

The growth in the number of immigrants in Brazil has stimulated reflections on how these people represent and signify aspects of the new context in which they are situated. This study aimed to trace social representations of Haitian immigrants about work in Brazil. Fifteen Haitians from a city in southern Brazil participated in the study. We used a questionnaire and an interview that addressed what they thought of work in Brazil before they migrated, at the time of the interview, and what they imagined for the future. The answers of the questionnaire were submitted to a statistical program and analyzed descriptively. The content of the interviews was treated by the IRaMuTeQ program. The shared thought about work in Brazil changed over time. Before they migrated, they imagined many opportunities and high salaries. In Brazil they faced difficulties with heavy work and low salaries. They hope that the future will be better, with a desired job and the family present. This study generated information that may support public policies that facilitate the adaptation to the Brazilian culture and labor market.