Setor têxtil-vestuário do Rio Grande do Sul: impactos da inovação e da flexibilização do trabalho

Abstract

The economic opening in 1990 meant rupture for the organizations of the clothing-textile sector, which had profited until then from a great deal of state protectionism. The companies were forced to re-structure themselves and develop strategies to survive in the market. This study aims at analyzing the impacts of the adoption of technological innovations and workforce flexibilization strategies on these organizations. In order to achieve this goal, a survey involving 43 Rio Grande do Sul companies from the Industrial Records at FIERGS was carried out. The study’s main results include: the diffusion of new technologies in the sector, mainly in the textile segment, and the use, yet incipient, of socio-organizational innovations. As for the work flexibilization strategies, the most utilized are overtime, outsourcing, sub-contracting, hour-bank and work in shifts.