Workers'villages-controlthroughhousing

The greater development of industrialization in Rio de Janeiro - starting in the mid-19th century - highlighted housing problems among the city's other social inequalities. One of the ways found to solve the housing shortage for the population working in the factories was the construction of workers' villages.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a city with houses and a large hill in the background. On the left side, we see several houses with sloped roofs, clustered together. In the center, there is a taller, isolated building with a light-colored façade and regularly spaced windows. On the right, smaller houses are arranged in a flat area. The hill, covered in vegetation, occupies the background of the image, standing out for its vertical extent.

A decree of October 30, 1875 established a tax exemption for companies or entrepreneurs who built housing for workers. Thus, from the 1880s onward, the growth in the number of factories was accompanied by the growth of workers' villages, whose construction stemmed from two different movements: first, from factory owners who wanted to maintain control over their employees and built the housing themselves (as in the cases of Companhia de Fiação e Tecidos Alliança, Fábrica de Tecidos São João, and Companhia América Fabril, for example); second, from entrepreneurs linked to civil construction who saw, in the expansion of the factories, a good opportunity to profit by building villages for workers in areas close to the companies (such as Vila Arthur Sauer, next to Fábrica Carioca, and the Senador Soares and Maxwell villages, next to Companhia Confiança).

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of an urban street. On the left, there is a building with windows and a light-colored facade. In the center, there is a wide street with people walking and an old car parked. On the right, there are more buildings and a white wall. In the background, there is a larger building with many windows. Power lines are visible along the street.

But besides solving the housing problem, the workers' villages also functioned as a tool for controlling the workers. Absences, strikes, and disputes with the factory owners led to the expulsion of workers, who, to live in the villages, had to be diligent at work. Having workers live in the villages spared the employer the cost of transporting these workers - whose daily lives came to be governed by the factory whistle - and also justified the low wages paid to the labor force, since rent was deducted from their paychecks.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white historical photograph. In the foreground, we see a group of people gathered in front of a large, extensive building. The spatial arrangement is asymmetrical, with most of the people concentrated to the right of the building. The building has several windows and arches, with a clear, regular structure. On the left, a tree is partially visible. In the background, we see a mountain covered with vegetation.

Another positive aspect for the employers was the possibility of employing more than one family member. The unhealthy working conditions and low wages often made it necessary for all, or almost all, family members to work, including women and children.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph showing a street with several houses of a workers' village. On the left and right, there are rows of simple houses with sloped roofs and light-colored facades. The houses are arranged in parallel, forming a central corridor. In the center of the image, there is a light post with electrical wires. People are walking along the street, some in suits and others in more casual clothing. In the background, there is a line of trees and a mountain.