Labour and globalisation: complexity and transformation

As a matter of balance of the contributions joined in the Dossier, this final word draws a comprehensive picture of the issues discussed by the authors and raises some questions pointing to a possible agenda for current labor studies. First, it sparks reflections going in the sense of discussing the actual meaning of what is to be considered either “normal” or “healthy” after Covid-19 crisis. Then it addresses such discussion to the world of work with interesting consequences, asking what is actually “normal” in labor relations. In the same vein, it reminds us the role of the so-called “essential workers” during the sanitary crisis: a lot of invisible realities which are now becoming visible. On the other side, the author call attention to imminent economic crisis, affecting jobs and companies. Similarly, he warns about the worsening of the working conditions under a post-Covid world: no “return to normal” is envisioned without shaking important structures of the already-known world. One of those pillars is the North-South divide: according to the author, that divide is loosing because the neat two-worlds mapping is blurred today – we find informality on both “worlds”, as well as either digital economy and inequalites are present North and South, so clear-cut differences may tend to disappear. The author finally proceeds to make a short comment about every of the contributions to the dossier, pointing out what is crucial and distinctive in each of them.

Short comment on Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) from Brazil’s Federal District

There is much left to learn about the diversity of Chironomidae in Brazil. To help to resolve this problem, a preliminary study of the Chironomidae present in a stream located in center of Brazil was proposed. The aim of this research was to provide a first record of the Chironomidae assemblage at Sarandi stream, in the Brazilian Cerrado. Samples were taken using a handheld D-net from the stream in October 2009. The samples were transported to the laboratory where the material was processed and the Chironomidae specimens were slide mounted, counted and identified to genera. Ninety individuals belonging to 15 genera were found, Chironomini was the richest tribe, with seven genera, while Tanytarsini showed the highest abundance of individuals (55.6%). Overall, Rheotanytarsus (20%), Tanytarsus ortoni-group (16.7%) and Lopescladius (14.4%) were the most abundant genera.