Child labor rises in Brazil
The child labor statistics had been on a downward trend before rising again in 2014
Child labor in Brazil rose 4.5% in 2014 compared to 2013, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). In 2013, there were 3.188 million children aged 5–17 years working, and that number rose to 3.331 million in 2014.
The data is part of a publication released Tuesday (Apr. 5) by Abrinq foundation, which includes childhood indicators from official Brazilian agencies. According to the foundation's Executive Administrator, Heloisa Oliveira, the purpose of the publication is to show how youth issues are interconnected. “These are things that may not say much if taken alone. But when you look at the whole picture you see areas that need attention and development,” she said.
The child labor statistics had been on a downward trend before rising again in 2014. Oliveira sees this as an indication of interconnected problems. “Families are having more difficulties making ends meet, and they are increasingly turning to their children for further income. This is a sign that social vulnerability is increasing. And what's most worrying is that this data still does not reflect the economic crisis we have been facing [since 2015],” he said.
The report also provides Ministry of Education statistics showing that only 25.7% of children up to three years old were enrolled in day care centers. “This is a very significant finding because it can be associated with other negative facts. If a mother who needs to work to support her family does not have a safe place to leave her child, that child is going to be much more vulnerable to situations of violence,” Oliveira said.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Child labor rises in Brazil
