Have you ever thought about dreaming for more than a century about an opportunity for professional growth? This is the reality for black people in Brazil. In an estimate made by IDBR, based on data from IBGE-Caged in 2023, it will take 167 years to achieve racial equity in the job market, that is, only in 2190. But, we don’t want to wait that long. Therefore, BFerraz in partnership with the Racial Equity Promotion Pact created the “Equity Calendar”, which marks the time needed for black people to achieve equality in the job market.
According to the study Social Inequalities by Color or Race in Brazil (2021), 34.5% of black people and 38.4% of mixed race people lived in poverty, almost double the rate among white people (18.6%). In extreme poverty, the rates were 9% for blacks and 11.4% for browns, while only 5% of whites were in this condition. In the labor market, inequalities persist: according to the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad) (2023), the white population presented an unemployment rate of 5.9%, while for blacks (8.9%) and mixed race (8.5%) the rates exceeded the national average. The results show that little has changed over the years, with the black population remaining at the same percentages since the beginning of the research.
With these alarming data, we want to not only warn about this problem, but also to be an agent of change in the business world. With the methodology of the Racial Equity Promotion Pact that brings together allied companies to foster an anti-racist organizational culture and achieve social equality, we can reduce this prediction together with important names in the fight, such as ambassador Isabel Fillardis.
The Pact, launched in 2021, is an initiative that combats racial inequalities in Brazil, promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for the black population. Composed of companies and organizations, it has been a catalyst for inclusive practices in the public and private sector, placing the racial issue at the center of the economic debate.
Among its actions is the ESG Racial Protocol, which guides companies to promote equity in their operations and communities, in addition to the ESG Racial Equity Index (IEER), which measures racial representation in the corporate market. The pact also leads projects such as the Pacto das Pretas, to promote black women in leadership positions, and the Pacto Transforma Program, which strengthens the professional qualifications of this population.
This partnership is a call to society to recognize that there are still many barriers to be overcome in dismantling this structural social hierarchy, which keeps the black population in less privileged positions, even when qualified and able. It took around 300 years to end slavery, but the rights and opportunities for more than half of the Brazilian population cannot wait that much longer. It is urgent to act to reduce this projection and build a fairer, more inclusive and egalitarian future for all.
“As a creative agency, we understand the power of communication to transform realities. The ‘Equity Calendar’ is not just a countdown of time, but a call to action. Our partnership with the Pact to Promote Racial Equity is a commitment to accelerating changes that reduce the projected 167 years of racial equity in the job market. Together, we believe we can rewrite this history faster.” points out, Enricco Benetti, Co-CEO and CCO of BFerraz.
“When faced with this sad fact, we felt the need to spread this information in a simple and powerful way. And there is nothing better than a calendar, an item that we look at daily, to invite everyone to reflect, understanding that the commitment to transforming the job market into a more equitable space must be assumed by all colors.”, explain Will Marinho and Vitor Silva, BFerraz creative duo responsible for the project.
The action will kick off with the projection of the complete Equity Calendar by the @projetemos project on Black Consciousness Day (20). The calendar will also be sent to celebrities, influencers and media outlets, as well as companies, and will be available online for anyone who wants to download it. In partnership with the Pact, an action booklet will be created to help reduce this time.
Download here.
More about the Racial Equity Promotion Pact
With free and voluntary membership, the Racial Equity Promotion Pact is an initiative that implements a Racial ESG Protocol for Brazil, bringing the racial issue to the center of the Brazilian economic debate. The association is made up of 72 signatory companies: 99Jobs, ADP, Aegea, Afterverse Games, Alicerce Educação, Ambev, Animale, Arezzo, B3, Bayer, Banco Pan, Banco Fibra, Belgo, Bene, BMG, BNP Paribas, CESAR, CSN, Dasa, Firjan, Galena, Gerdau, GOL, Grupo Fleury, Grupo Soma, Ifood, Jive, Kraft, Movile, Movile Pay, Nesst, Pinheiro Neto, PWC, Senai, Sesi, Super Rico, Suzano, Sympla, Vale, Vivo, Vox, XP, Zoop, BrightMed, Sistema B. For more information visit the website.
