The challenges imposed on Brazil by the absence of Public Policies for the Digital Transformation of Work

*By Ana Claudia Donner Abreu

The digital transformation of work has been a growing phenomenon in recent years, driven by technological advancement and its rapid adoption in various sectors of the economy. Countries that cannot keep up with this movement and do not formulate adequate public policies to deal with this change can face a series of significant challenges. This essay aims to highlight the difficulties that Brazil may face due to the lack of efficient strategies for the digital transformation of work.

1. Structural unemployment – one of the main challenges that Brazil may face due to the absence of public policies for the digital transformation of work is the risk of structural unemployment. Automation and the implementation of disruptive technologies can lead to the replacement of people by machines and algorithms, resulting in an imbalance between job supply and demand. Those who do not have digital skills or do not have access to qualification and requalification programs may be unemployed for a period;
2. Inequality and social exclusion – the digital transformation of work can deepen social inequalities. Those who have limited access to quality education or technology infrastructure may find themselves marginalized in the digitized job market. In addition, certain socioeconomic groups, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, may face additional barriers to keeping up with technological changes;
3. Economic stagnation – the lack of effective public policies for the digital transformation of work can harm our economic growth. The modernization of production, distribution and service provision processes driven by digital transformation is crucial to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of companies, cities and countries. Stagnation, in this context, can lead to the loss of foreign investment and weaken the business environment;
4. Need to adapt labor legislation – the digital transformation of work brings challenges to existing labor legislation. New forms of work, such as telework and digital platforms, demand updated regulations to guarantee protection of workers' rights, definition of working hours, adequate remuneration and safety in the work environment . The lack of adjustments in this area can lead to conflicts and instability in labor relations;
5. Global competitiveness – the absence of public policies for digital transformation can compromise Brazil's competitiveness on the global stage. Countries that invest in digital infrastructure, technological education and research and development have competitive advantages in the international market. The lack of strategic vision in this sense can result in a disadvantageous position in relation to other countries that embrace the digital transformation and structure policies to qualify and re-qualify people;

   In an increasingly digital world, the transformation of work is inevitable. Those countries that do not formulate adequate public policies to embrace these changes face a series of difficulties, as we tried to demonstrate . Therefore, it is essential that Brazil recognizes the importance of formulating public policies that result in strategies to face the challenge of the digital transformation of work, promoting inclusion, adapting labor laws and socioeconomic development as a whole.

   Ana Cláudia Donner Abreu is Researcher THINK TANK ABES – IEA/USP and Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Integration Engineering and Knowledge Governance at PPGEGC/UFSC.