The INSS professional rehabilitation program and the reinsertion of workers into the job market

Introduction: In Brazil, public assistance to workers affected by diseases or accidents, unable to practice their profession, but with residual work potential, is provided by the National Social Security Institute (INSS), through the Professional Rehabilitation Program (PRP). Objective: The general purpose of this research was to understand the PRP's contribution to the reinsertion of the worker into the labor market. Method: It is a case study, documentary, cross-sectional and descriptive, which had as a data source 592 medical records of workers referred to the PRP of an INSS Agency of the Southeast region of Brazil, from 2007 to 2012, from which they were extracted sociodemographic, academic and professional data, as well as interviews with eight rehabilitated users. Results: The results showed that 48.5% of the insured persons were eligible, 34% considered rehabilitated and 49.02% were employed. The respondents did not point out a direct relationship between the PRP and their reinsertion in the market, but stated that the resources used were important to achieve, if not a job, at least personal and professional recognition. Although the employability rate of the rehabilitated workers is satisfactory compared to those found in studies of developed countries and with less unequal societies, this apparatus has not yet become an effective ally of the Brazilian worker. Conclusion: It is essential that the INSS and rehabilitated professionals have a more active stance in the rehabilitation process. The promotion of intersectoral actions that seek to articulate the public policies related to the area and that encompass the complexity of the process of return to work should be considered