International migrant workers in Brazil

Abstract

"THIS STUDY ANALYZES THE INSERTION OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANT workers in the Brazilian economy. The current situation of foreign workers is understood in t he historical context of the immigration that existed and still exists in Brazil. The historical analysis o f the migratory flow is presented under a demographic lens. The study supports a demographic thesis: Immigration is, above all, a matter of number s . A study o n international migration or national identity cannot be separated from the phenomenon of population growth and de cline1. Multiple examples show the importance of demography to understand the social, eco nomic and political factors of immigration. For instance, contrary to the first decades of the 20t h c entury, Brazil no longer suffers demographic pressure from out side: the number of asylum seekers , international migrant workers and all type of immigrants has fallen to very low levels . International migrants constitute only 0.4 % of Brazil’ s population. This decline in immigration has a strong impacton the way society and politicians deal with the issue. Immigration policy is largely absent from public and political debates, in stark contrast with the importance given to the issue in the beginning of the last century when immigrants composed 7% of the Brazilian population."