Workers in the Manaus Free Trade Zone are considered the pillars of the Amazonian economy

Manaus (AM) – “Without them nothing would happen”, thus illustrates former state deputy and economist Serafim Corrêa, when commenting on the importance of workers in the Manaus Free Trade Zone (ZFM), who celebrate Labor Day on May 1st.

The Free Zone represents one of the main labor pillars in Amazonas. The industrial pole currently employs 109,807 workers, according to the Performance Indicators of the Industrial Pole of Manaus (PIM) of the Superintendence of the Free Zone of Manaus (Suframa), released at the end of last year.

Opportunities for everyone

Working for more than 10 years in the Manaus Free Trade Zone, industrialist Regner Filho, employed at Samsung Eletrônica da Amazônia LTDA, achieved professional advancement, after dedicating himself and qualifying in the company.

“I started working in the district in 2014, I’m completing 10 years this year at the company. I started as a logistics operator and in two years ‘working hard’ I was promoted to supervisor and since then I haven’t stopped”,

said the worker.

The professional believes that working within the Industrial Pole is rewarding, having his work valued and being socially respected for his performance. “Employment in the district is a job respected by the Amazonian population. In my point of view, I believe that the industrial center of Manaus is responsible for moving the economy of Amazonas“, account.

Gérson Sobreira, 41, started working in the industrial district 20 years ago as a minor apprentice, after taking a vocational course. He was encouraged by his father to seek professional training at the National Service for Industrial Learning (SENAI) and, after taking a toolmaking course, he worked at some PIM companies, and is currently at Samsung.

“I started my career in the industry in 1997, as a minor apprentice, through a professional course I took at SENAI. I took the course because of my father, he encouraged me to take this professional course. I started with 17 years as an apprentice and today I am 41 working in the district. We learn many things in companies, which we bring to our personal lives, such as technology, innovation and safety, in addition to rules and regulations. ”

For Sobreira, workers in the Free Zone are respected in the Amazon social sphere.

“People see the professionals who work in the district as respectful of the rules, who keep to schedules and comply with social conduct. Companies have a reputation for paying on time. I can say that we are respected for being district workers. The industrial district of Manaus manages most of the state’s economy. So the importance is gigantic”,

account.

Thinking about this scenario of qualification and evolution, the inclusion of people with disabilities (PwDs) in this labor market has advanced. This workforce of PcDs gained strength mainly in the two-wheel sector of the PIM.

Every year, companies in the two-wheel sector, from the PIM, invest in PwDs’ workforce. Many of the private institutions claim that these employees are dedicated and deserve the job.

Mary Jane de Silva, 42, works as operator 2, in Yamaha’s packaging sector. She says that her first job opportunity was within the motorcycle manufacturer. Silva is very proud of the position she has won, even with her hearing impairment.

“Such a condition has never been a limiting factor for me due to the welcome I have always received from the other employees of the company. Everyone has always been very helpful, trying to help with communication and work around difficulties in the limitations”,

highlights.

Makson da Silva, production operator in the welding sector at Audax, has been working at the factory for a year. He lost some of his fingers in an accident at another job, but because he was always a cyclist, he had the dream of working in a bicycle factory. “The passion for bicycles motivated me and today I am a worker who assembles bicycles for many people. ”

The athlete rides his bicycle to work every day, from the Coroado neighborhood, in the East Zone of Manaus, to the Tarumã-Açu neighborhood, on BR-174. He arrives before his time and waits until work begins.

Silva points out that it is currently very difficult to get a job as a PwD, depending on your disability. Another barrier factor is age.

“The company where I work has not seen my age and has placed me in a place where I can carry out my activities, knowing my limitations. And that motivates me more to work to carry out the activities”,

reveals.

Economist Assis Mourão Junior believes that PIM workers need to qualify to accompany the modernization of companies.

“We are in a moment of industry 4.0, where automation is much more mechanized, there is a need for worker qualification. There is a need for workers to understand automation. ”

Industry 4.0

Industry 4.0 or Fourth Industrial Revolution is the system that encompasses automation technologies and data connection, seeking to leverage productivity from the use of technology and innovation.

Michele Aracaty, economist with a PhD in Regional Development and professor at the Department of Economics at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), identifies that this modernization technology will not be responsible for the loss of jobs.

“What we need to follow is the constant need for qualification on the part of the productive workforce of the Industrial Pole of Manaus for the process of operating more modern and sophisticated machines and equipment, as well as for the correct use of the data generated in the equipment”,

clarifies.

Valuation

In a note, Samsung points out that the company acts in the appreciation and qualification of employees, also acting in actions to improve the work environment.

“At Samsung, we value our employees above all else. We are committed to providing employees with opportunities that help them reach their full potential. We have, as a premise, to maintain a happy and engaged workforce and, for this, as one of our initiatives, we annually carry out a cultural and global engagement survey and define the main actions to improve our work environment”,

it says.

Roberta Veras, financial educator and business management consultant, considers employees who work in the Free Zone to be socially relevant. She analyzes that in addition to contributing to the Amazonian economy, workers act indirectly in environmental protection.

“They are qualified and prepared professionals who contribute to the sustainable development of our Amazon region, both for our state and for exporting products to other parts of Brazil and the world. They deserve all our recognition, admiration, for their workday, for their technical knowledge, for their movement in the economy, because they actively contribute to money circulating in society. ”

“The free zone is one of the pillars that contribute to us having employability within our region, as well as trade, which is also relevant and important for our society to have greater employability and less economic crisis”, he concludes.

*Material produced by Marcela Estrella

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