Trabalhadores dos restaurantes populares: condições ocupacionais e de saúde

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Popular Restaurants (PR) are public facilities aimed at promoting access to healthy and quality food for populations in vulnerable situations. However, the working conditions and health of the workers in these establishments have been a growing concern. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand on essential workers, such as those in the food services sector, further impacting their health and working conditions. Analyzing the occupational and health conditions of these workers can contribute to the improvement of public policies focused on food and nutritional security and the enhancement of working conditions in the sector. OBJECTIVE: To compare the health and work conditions before and after the Covid-19 pandemic among workers in Popular Restaurants, as well as to study the prevalence of common mental disorders and the occupational and socioeconomic factors associated with workers in Popular Restaurants in Belo Horizonte. METHODS: A panel study was conducted with workers from the PRs in Belo Horizonte, collecting data at two time points (2017 and 2022), comparing health and work conditions before and after the pandemic. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests for comparisons. The second study was a cross-sectional study on socioeconomic, occupational, and health information. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression, with common mental disorder (CMD) as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The first study showed an increase in household food and nutritional insecurity (FNI) and health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension among PR workers after the pandemic. There was also an increase in the number of overtime hours and additional jobs. The comparison of psychosocial work aspects indicated a worsening of working conditions, with increased lack of control and social support. The second study revealed that the prevalence of CMD among PR workers was higher than one-third, with positive associations with female sex, brown or yellow skin color, and household food and nutritional insecurity. CONCLUSION: The studies highlight the fragility of the working and health conditions of PR workers, particularly regarding household FNI and CMDs. With the increase in health problems and occupational stress following the Covid-19 pandemic. Interventions should focus on improving working conditions, reducing social inequalities, and promoting the mental and physical health of these workers.