http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d129943e-8...#axzz1rk0zhM3H

I asked the manager in a Rio de Janeiro McDonalds about why they charge the same price for a number one as in the US, but pay the help a small fraction. He replied that for every Real in compensation Brasilia charges R$1,30 in taxes and fees. In other words every R$100 in wages costs the company R$230. Add to that the mandatory Christmas bonus of a month's pay and a month's paid vacation.