MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula da Silva promises a million new formal jobs in 2009

In September Brazilian jobs lost because of the recession were recovered

President Lula da Silva said Brazil would end this year with a million new formal jobs and in 2010 the economy will expand 5%. Speaking at his program “Breakfast with the President”, Lula da Silva announced that 252.000 jobs had been created in September which means 2009 will end “with a million new formal jobs”.

“It’s extraordinary and makes me very happy; I’m very optimistic about 2010 because we are anticipating growth of 5% and that will again help generate jobs in an extraordinary way”, he added.

Lula da Silva recalled that he had anticipated a quick end to the recession which in spite of the global crisis has seen Brazil create a record number of new jobs. “September has seen the highest number of formal jobs so far this year and it is the highest since September a year ago”.

The steady increase in the number of jobs during the last eight months has helped Brazil reach the 800.000 new formal jobs milestone, which was the number lost between November last year and January 2009 as a direct consequence of the global turndown.

According to the government the fact that Brazil will end the year with a million new formal jobs is evidence the country has managed to overcome the world crisis, even when that number is below that of 2008 (1.45 million) and of 2007 (1.61 million jobs).

“Brazil is ready to begin growing again, to generate new jobs and to distribute income” said Lula da Silva.

“I’m going to dedicate the year and three months left of my government to conclude things we are doing, to improve that which is showing defects and leave Brazil even more prepared for whoever follows me as president”, he concluded.