DESIGUALDADE SALARIAL DE GÊNERO NA AMÉRICA LATINA

IMPLICAÇÕES PARA O DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL NO BRASIL E MÉXICO

Abstract

This article analyzes gender wage inequality in Latin America through a comparative approach between Brazil and Mexico, aiming to understand its implications for regional development. Methodologically, it adopts a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis, literature review, and the use of secondary data from official sources and specialized studies. In the Brazilian case, labor market data and Law No. 14,611/2023 are examined, while Mexico is analyzed through indicators from the National Survey of Occupation and Employment and recent studies on gender inequality. The findings indicate that, despite normative advances in both countries, wage disparities persist and are associated with occupational segregation, high levels of informality, low female labor participation (especially in Mexico), and the unequal distribution of unpaid care work. The comparison shows that these inequalities cannot be explained by individual factors alone but are rooted in structural economic and social conditions characteristic of Latin American economies. It concludes that gender wage inequality represents a constraint on regional development and requires integrated public policies that connect labor markets, care systems, and territorial dynamics.