Disney cultural exchange program: exploração de mão de obra ou realização de um sonho?

Abstract

The following article aims to introduce the Disney Cultural Exchange Program and explain how the experience legally affects those who take part in it, as well as to shed light on how the program works from its recruitment process to its completion and what the legal link between the company and the participant is. Regarding the analysis of the issue in relation to the program, how it affects the participants and if there is an employment relationship, program documents were used, in addition to statements given by former participants and documents from the American juridical sphere. The data leads to an understanding of how the program works and what its consequences to former participants are and because of that it can be said that this research classifies itself as practical and theoretical, descriptive, under the dialectical method of approach and the descriptive method of procedure. Based on the analysis of the topic in accordance with the aforementioned objectives and the indicated methodology, it was understood that for both the Brazilian and the American legal order, the program establishes an employment relationship between the company and the participant, even though the employee doesn't ever sign a work contract with Disney.