Unfortunately you are right, rmimbe, it is a cultural issue. I have been treated exactly the same way in all airlines I applied to in latin america (3), while on the other hand I have worked for three companies in three different continents and never experienced such a contempt for people.
And it is unlikely it will change, as long as pilotīs recruitment is in the hands of HR (recursos inhumanos), people who donīt know or care a thing about all the sacrifices and hassles pilots go through (in most of the cases, at least) in order to get a job in an airline, let alone deciding upon someoneīs ability to fly.
But hey, those are the people hired to maximize a companyīs profit at the expense of their employees, arenīt they? I guess it is like asking Pinochet to be tolerant.