Modos de viver e modos de lutar de imigrantes haitianos na cidade de Cascavel, Paraná (2010-2024)

Abstract

This thesis discusses the historical experiences and trajectories of Haitian workers in the city of Cascavel in the Brazilian state of Paraná over the last two decades. During this period, the number of Haitian immigrants in western Paraná, particularly in the municipality of Cascavel, has increased significantly. Many of these workers are employed in occupations characterised by exhausting, repetitive work with little formal education required. These jobs are poorly paid and marked by high rates of physical and mental illness, as well as high staff turnover, largely resulting from the poor working conditions. In this context, the research examined the presence of Haitians in Cascavel, Paraná. It recognises that capital interests pressure the displacement of workers globally, while also questioning how this historical process is experienced by those who move, and how they perceive and interpret their trajectories within this conflictual dynamic of class interests. The research mapped and discussed how Haitians experience the condition of immigrant workers, considering how the prospect of emigration/immigration has historically affected their ways of living and working, and how this may impact their journeys through different countries such as the Dominican Republic and Chile before arriving in Brazil, particularly in western Paraná. Finally, the experience of Haitian workers in Cascavel, Paraná was addressed, including labour relations, ways of life and perceptions of their trajectories and expectations for the future. In this regard, the following sources supported the historical reflection and analysis in this study: (i) interviews with Haitian immigrants; (ii) fieldwork involving visits to places frequented by these individuals; and (iii) materials produced during an extension project for immigrants conducted between 2021 and 2022.