From the teleology of classical subordination to the constitutional teleonomy of labor: a necessary reinterpretation of legal subordination in the 21st century

Abstract

Brazilian labor jurisprudence remains based on the classic structure of legal subordination, personality, continuity, technical dependence, direction and insertion in the organization, integration, as if they were ontological and permanent requirements. This article demonstrates that such elements are historical manifestations of the typical subordination resulting from an industrial teleology typical of the 20th century, in which work was directed towards an external purpose imposed by the employer. With the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, the foundation becomes human dignity and the social values ​​of work, moving towards improving living conditions, a social order based on work and the financing of social security. Thus, Labor Law migrates to a social teleonomy perspective, aligned with the contemporary dynamics of labor relations. Based on the distinction between teleology and teleonomy, developed in the philosophy of biology by Monod,Mayr and systematized by Alfredo Marcos, it is argued that the Labor Court and the majority doctrine remain stuck in a historically outdated teleological paradigm, which prevents the adequate apprehension of contemporary subordination and produces erosive effects on the 1988 constitutional order. Therefore, an objective structural subordination of the activity is proposed, capable of capturing the functional dependence in open systems and of carrying out the constitutional teleonomy of work. When classical manifestations are not present, the interpreter must investigate teleonomy and the functional insertion of the work, and not demand empirical signs of an outdated model.