Outsourcing and informal labor have become increasingly common practices aimed at optimizing efficiency and reducing costs. In the footwear industry, it results in precarious working conditions, including exhausting work hours, inadequate environments, lack of labor rights, exposure to various occupational hazards, and the development of metabolic, musculoskeletal, and psychological disorders.

To evaluate the working conditions in outsourced informal production units in the footwear industry.

The sample was composed by four workers. The Need for Recovery Scale (NFR) was applied to assess fatigue; the COPSOQ II-Br to identify psychosocial work risks and the Work Ability Index (WAI) to evaluate workers' perception of their work capacity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

NFR indicated that three of four (75%) of workers scored below the cutoff point of 45, suggesting a lower need for recovery. In the WAI assessment, two of four (50%) of workers scored 43, indicating good work ability, while the remaining two workers scored 44, indicating excellent work ability. Finally, COPSOQ II-Br revealed unfavorable scores in work pace, influence on work, new skill development, commitment to the workplace, burnout, and stress.

The results indicate that, although the perception of work ability is predominantly good or excellent and the need for recovery is lower, unfavorable psychosocial conditions, such as a fast work pace, low autonomy, and high stress levels, may compromise occupational health in the long term.

Identifying these working conditions may contribute to the development of strategies aimed at mitigating the impacts of informal and outsourced labor on the health of workers in the footwear industry, preventing occupational health deterioration.