This is the 9600th most frequent Portuguese word.
contratadas
"Hired" or "contracted."
Here, "contratadas" is used as an adjective describing the employees who were hired.
As empregadas contratadas começaram a trabalhar ontem.
The hired employees started working yesterday.
In this sentence, "contratadas" is used as an adjective qualifying the companies that were engaged or employed for the specific project.
As empresas contratadas para o projeto são muito competentes.
The companies hired for the project are very competent.
Here, "contratados" functions as an adjective describing the services that were agreed upon or hired.