Staff safety concerns as Brazil hosts football carnival

Brazil is famous for its stunning beaches, hot weather and a party atmosphere but experts warn that it is also a violent country, in which public services and medical services are not always reliable. The threat of public protests during the 32-day-long World Cup also hangs over the tournament. Although Brazil does not generally face risks such as terrorism, which international companies encounter in other parts of the emerging world, crime is a major threat. The threat of violence, for one, should not be treated lightly. Brazil has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, according to the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime. In 2012, the country registered 25.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, which is a higher rate than Mexico and almost three times as high as in Russia.hideMost crimes take place in poor areas that company officials and tourists are unlikely to go near, but it is not unusual for foreign visitors to be victims of violent crime in Brazil. In March, for example, a Croat and a Swede were tortured and killed on a quiet beach close to Natal, a World Cup venue. According to the Consejo Ciudadano para la Seguridad Pública y Justicia Penal, a Mexican non-governmental organisation, Brazil has 16 of the 50 most violent cities in the world. Six of them-Fortaleza, Natal, Salvador, Cuiabá, Manaus and Recife-will host World Cup games. "We know about crime risk in Brazil," said John G Rendeiro Jr, Vice President, Global Security & Intelligence at International SOS and Control Risks, a medical and travel security joint venture that helps organisations understand and manage the risks of operating in complex or hostile environments. "There are certain areas in big cities like Rio de Janeiro, Brasília or São Paulo where crime rates are very high. People would be advised to avoid such areas," he said. But even in the safer parts of Brazilian cities there is the potential for visitors to be victims of crime, the expert said. Visitors to Brazil should be aware that robberies are not uncommon in tourist areas and therefore around World Cup stadia. "Visitors should carry cash in more than one pocket," Mr Rendeiro advised. "They should not carry all of their cash or all credit cards in a single wallet. It may be a good idea to carry a dummy wallet with a little currency or an expired credit card that they can hand over in case they are robbed," he added. He advised against walking around with a smartphone or tablet, certainly on show, because such gadgets are expensive in Brazil and therefore targeted by criminals. Dressing modestly and leaving jewelry and other valuable items at home are also recommended policies. Another important risk to be considered during the World Cup is civil unrest. The world's attention on Brazil during the World Cup provides an opportunity for disgruntled citizens to express their discontent. Although foreigners are not likely to be targeted by such protests, they could be affected if things spiral out of control. Last year, mass protests were organised during the Confederations Cup, a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, also held in Brazil. "The Confederations Cup was a kind of a wake up call concerning the risk of civil unrest in Brazil," Mr Rendeiro said. More protests are planned to take place during the World Cup. Company employees and tourists are advised to stay informed about what is going on in the cities they are visiting, said Mr Rendeiro. "As they move around the country, travellers must be aware of the potential for protests to take place," he said. Likely problems with transportation are also a risk during the World Cup, noted Rob Walker, Head of Information and Analysis at International SOS and Control Risks. "Large numbers of people will arrive at cities during the games, and this should affect the ability of travellers to move around," he said. This challenge is compounded by the fact that on a good day traffic is very congested in cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Public transportation is not necessarily a viable option either. Bus routes and, where they can be found, metro lines are not well developed in the sprawling Brazilian cities. Moving from one place to another in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro can require a number of connections that would make any trip a tricky proposition, especially for non-Portuguese speakers. Catching the wrong bus could take a foreign visitor to one of the cities' no-go areas. Visitors should not underestimate how large Brazilian cities are. Most host cities have more than 1.4 million inhabitants. São Paulo is a metropolis of 11.2 million. International SOS advises visitors against driving themselves around Brazil during the World Cup. “ "We strongly recommend that visitors do not drive themselves," Mr Rendeiro said. Even with the help of GPS, Brazilian cities pose a huge challenge for drivers. A much better option is to arrange a private driver or make use of taxi services, Mr Rendeiro said. It is also important to ensure that staff have access to quality health services in Brazil. The country's public health system, although improved in recent years, is not up to the standards of the developed world. Brazilians themselves will make use of private healthcare providers whenever they can afford it. Risk managers should therefore have in place a contingency plan to help their colleagues access quality health services if the need arises.

Staff safety concerns as Brazil hosts football carnival

Want to read this article?

Read Next

Corporate polluters in spotlight as case against RWE progresses

Lloyd’s ‘comfortable’ with targets despite $2.3bn wildfire losses

Aon and Willis boost data analytics capabilities

Insured losses from Storm Boris rise to €2.19bn: Perils

Beazley meets renewable energy demand in Iberia with new hire

Corporate polluters in spotlight as case against RWE progresses

Lloyd’s ‘comfortable’ with targets despite $2.3bn wildfire losses

Aon and Willis boost data analytics capabilities

Insured losses from Storm Boris rise to €2.19bn: Perils

Beazley meets renewable energy demand in Iberia with new hire

Keep yourself informed

Sign up for Commercial Risk’s newsletters

Want to read this article?

Read Next

Corporate polluters in spotlight as case against RWE progresses

Lloyd’s ‘comfortable’ with targets despite $2.3bn wildfire losses

Aon and Willis boost data analytics capabilities

Insured losses from Storm Boris rise to €2.19bn: Perils

Beazley meets renewable energy demand in Iberia with new hire

Related Articles

Keep yourself informed

Sign up for Commercial Risk’s newsletters