Workers are always present in the photographs from the Light collection. As an example, it is worth mentioning that in the early 1930s, already at its peak, the company had more than 36,000 employees. Social assistance services were expanding. Even before the Estado Novo dictatorship (1937-1945), when the country underwent broad labor reform, Light already provided medical and legal assistance, pensions in cases of disability or death, sponsorship of sporting events, among other measures, aimed at workers' well-being. Other factories and industries also offered some support, aiming not only at well-being but also at a certain degree of control over the working classes (see the gallery Rio operário). A search through newspapers from the first decades of the 20th century reveals moments when tensions rose there, in the employer-employee relationship. But through negotiations, the problems were gradually overcome. Some of the following images, almost all by Augusto Malta, evoke the work of other photographers who, at that same time — the American Lewis Hine being a notable example — were paying close attention to the issue of working conditions, including those of children and women. The first decades of the 20th century were crucial for progress in this field, throughout the world.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an industrial setting. On the left, we see a man sitting on a crate, looking forward. Beside him, there are several boxes stacked on the floor. In the center, two men are working with industrial equipment, while a third looks on. On the right, two men are near a large machine, possibly performing manual tasks. In the background, we see a closed door and more industrial equipment.Oficina de Moldagem - Estação de Villa Izabel [Oficina de Fundição de Ferro] – 06/04/1908 – Augusto Malta
This photograph was taken by Zenóbio Couto, who had made the famous record of the Revolta dos 18 do Forte de Copacabana in 1922. He was hired to document the visits of President Washington Luís to the Light substation on Rua Frei Caneca and to the gas factory in São Cristóvão, in 1928. The documentation was compiled into a beautiful album. It is worth noting the conditions of the worker on the right of the photograph; a Black man, barefoot, in absolute contrast to the white men who held decision-making positions in the company.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph showing a group of men standing in front of a building. From left to right, the men are arranged in a straight line, with some holding canes. They are all wearing hats and formal clothing, ranging from suits to blazers. The man in the center is raising his arm, apparently making a gesture. In the background, other men and workers are standing, some wearing straw hats. The structure behind them appears to be a simple building, possibly made of wood.Visita do presidente Washington Luiz e de outras altas autoridades às instalações da Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power Company Limited - Rua Frei Caneca - e à Fábrica da S. A. du Gaz de Rio de Janeiro, em São Christóvão – 24/11/1928 – Zenóbio Couto
A typical image from the 1950s that brings to mind the movies and TV series of the era. Since 1938, The Rio de Janeiro Tramway, Light and Power Co. Ltd. had already come to be called Companhia Carris Luz e Força do Rio de Janeiro, as can be read on the van's door. Communication via radio in mobile vehicles was a novelty, having started in the United States in the 1920s, but it only really took hold by the middle of the century. In that very year, 1956, Light had set up a radio communication service, operating from a station located on Corcovado hill. The goal was to speed up customer service, thanks to the ability to communicate with the fleet.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of two men inside an old car. On the left is a man with glasses, looking to the side. To his right, another man, wearing a hat, holds a radio. The car has a sign on the rear door with the logo of "Companhia Carris Luz e Força Ltda." Rio de Janeiro Ltda. The background shows a metal structure and a tree.Rádio Comunicações – Fotógrafo não identificado - 15/08/1956
Although this 1925 photograph does not provide much clarification in its inscriptions, it is possible that this is a streetcar garage. Two elements brought into the pose for the photographer catch our attention: the tire and the wheel in the foreground and, in the background, above and to the right (see detail), a few men wielding their hammers. But there are several other workers who display their tools. And there is even some staging involved. The diversity of outfits, hats, attitudes, and gazes is striking... how many memories this image carries, with each person portrayed having something to tell us.
Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of a group of adult workers and children posing in front of an industrial building. The image shows a large number of people arranged in three rows, with the youngest seated in the foreground and the adults standing behind them. In the center, two large vehicle wheels are positioned, suggesting that the location may be related to the automotive industry. At the bottom of the image, there is a sign reading "GARAGE OFF DA LIGHT 1925."Equipe de Oficina – 1925 – Fotógrafo não identificado
Throughout the 19th century and in the early 20th century, child labor was common all over Europe; in the Americas, it was no different, especially during the slavery period, when Black children began working from early childhood. Children from poorer families performed a variety of tasks, often extremely unhealthy ones. Today, the International Labour Organization convention sets the minimum age for work in general at 16 years old – or 14, depending on a country's economic conditions. The photographs that follow constitute valuable evidence of the participation of underage citizens in the production process of that time.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an industrial setting. On the left, we see a series of tables stacked with work materials. People are organizing and handling these materials. In the center, more people work around similar tables. On the right, there is a large quantity of items hanging on the walls and on shelves. The background features a wooden structure and hanging lamps.Oficina de Bobina – 01/04/1924 – Augusto Malta
In Brazil, the first Constitution of the Republic made no mention of labor relations. It was common for children to be present in factories, where they began their working life. A 1927 decree established the Code of Minors, which banned work for children under 12 years old. In 1932, under the government of Getúlio Vargas, a new decree raised the minimum age to 14 in factories. And the 1934 Constitution was the first to address labor rights, including child labor. Today, Brazil's Constitution (1988) allows workers as young as 14, in the condition of apprentice.
Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a group of workers in a factory. The image shows six men gathered around wooden tables. On the left, a man is pulling a rope attached to a hanging object. Two men are seated on wooden benches, focused on their tasks. A man stands behind a table, holding a container. Another man stands on the right, also holding a container. The setting is industrial, with wooden structures and roof tiles overhead.Oficina de Transformadores – 07/04/1924 – Augusto Malta