Answer to Question #229444 in Sociology for NEO

Question

Explain how social justice, according to Horpedahl (2019) could play a role in mitigating the environmental effects (exacerbating) of the pandemic on poverty/ unemployment (as social problem).

Answer 1

The most affected groups account for a large percentage of the population of the countries 

in the region. For example, in the case of Brazil, estimates made by the Brazilian senate’s 

Independent Fiscal Institution (IFI) and based on data up to 1 May 2020 indicate that half the 

population (111 million people) could require economic assistance to deal with the effects of 

the pandemic, which would cost more than US$ 37 billion. This would mean more than doubling 

the scope of current measures, which provide for some 50 million people at a cost of some 

US$ 17 billion (Folhaio de S. Paulo, 2020). 

While the crisis affects the entire workforce, the situation of informal workers of both sexes, 

and especially that of women and young people, indigenous people, people of African 

descent and migrants, results from the confluence of the axes of inequality and constitutes a 

hard core of vulnerability. The vast majority of these workers do not have sufficient savings to 

face the crisis in a scenario where, in addition, remittances may also suffer a sharp contraction.

„ Physical distancing measures prevent informal workers from pursuing their activities and 

generating income to keep themselves out of poverty. Most have little or no access to social 

security, and thus limited ability to benefit from unemployment insurance or access to health 

care. Only eight Latin American and three Caribbean countries have unemployment insurance.

The increase in informal work in the face of rising unemployment will make it difficult for 

informal workers and their families to obtain income to maintain a decent standard of living.

This situation will also put pressure on the financial sustainability of social protection systems 

through the reduction of direct contributions and possible reduction.