São Paulo care workers support bill to expand training and protections

Workers who participate in the Care Worker Network of Brazil participated in an event held at the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (ALESP) on May 26 to recognise care work and support a new bill that aims to expand access to training and monitor working conditions, among other related topics.

The bill “State Policy for Comprehensive Care for People with a Lack of Self-Care Autonomy Due to Age, Disabilities and/or Physical and Mental Illness” (PL 307/2025), authored by Rep. Dr. Jorge do Carmo (PT), proposes expanding access to high-quality, free or low-cost professional training for care workers, and creating a council to monitor courses and working conditions for care workers.

During the activity, homecare workers gave testimonies about their work experiences, highlighting the importance of caring for patients with various conditions, and reporting on the problems faced by these workers, most of whom lack a formal employment relationship. Healthcare unions, a care workers association and members of the State Council for the Elderly also participated.

“These courses are extremely important for workers to be able to provide the best possible care to their patients,” said Josefa Cabral, who has been a care worker for more than 25 years. “This proposal is essential to expand access to high-quality, free or low-cost in-person training.”

The Care Worker Network of Brazil is supporting the bill as part of its campaign to bring about the formalisation of care work, the strengthening of care workers’ rights, and the democratisation of access to care. “I have worked as a care worker for the past six years, and I think we need to be recognised,” said Network member Elza Dias. “We give everything to care for patients, and we deserve to be supported as well.”

“It is essential to recognise care work as an essential profession that requires adequate training, guaranteed labour rights and decent working conditions. Formalising the sector is a necessary step to ensure social justice and quality care for people who need it,” said Lucía Lindner – Regional Director for the Care Sector at UNI Americas.

The Care Worker Network of Brazil is supported by UNI Americas, an international union in the service sectors, the Union of Public Healthcare Workers in the State of São Paulo (SindSaúde-SP), and the Federation of Healthcare Workers in the State of São Paulo.