Henrique Meirelles, then the finance minister, has even claimed that labor reform has the potential to generate an even higher number of jobs than previously projected—6 million.
"Labor reform elevates the economy's productivity, but it cannot displace other macroeconomic factors like business and consumer confidence, fiscal situation and monetary policy. I believe that, with tax and social security reforms, the economy will return to a growth stage, and labor reform will produce, in a more clear form, the expected results," Meirelles said.
The ex-senator Romero Jucá, who sponsored the bill, said that when the economy starts to grow again, labor reform will give employers the confidence to hire people.
"We didn't have the increase (in jobs) that we expected. When this increase happens, and people must be hired, the employer will have a menu of options to employ people in the best way for his/her business. The reform is not negative nor anachronistic. It's still relevant, important but it's not something that acts alone. There must be economic growth, investment, and if not, production nor employment will increase," Jurá said.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon