Brazil is currently suffering a deep economic stagnation and a severe political crisis, after a period of significant economic growth. This paper aims to situate the Brazilian �social question� in both historical and current perspectives, focusing on the labor issue and relates it to the matters of development, labor informality and democracy. We intend to demonstrate that the end of the PT's government cycle, precipitated by a severe economic and political crisis and the recent impeachment of President Rousseff, will certainly lead to an unprecedented political and social backward step, after important social development took place. We also seek to demonstrate that with the current trend toward the precarization of work, a new boost in social development depends on the organizational capacity of informal and precarious workers.