Child labor, the practice of employing children under the legal age set by a government, is considered one of Brazil's most significant social issues. It is estimated that about 30 percent of Brazilian child labor occurs in the agricultural sector, and 60 percent occurs in the northern and northeastern regions of the country. Data indicates that 65 percent of child laborers are Afro-Brazilians , and 70 percent are male.
Children are forced to work to supplement family income, eliminating their studies and social lives. Since the enactment of the constitution , child labor has been illegal in the country.
Social movements were created to increase awareness of child labor in Brazil, such as the introduction of the hashtag ChegaDeTrabalhoInfantil. Despite these improvements, Brazil still accounts for one-fourth of Latin America's underage workers in. Between and , there was a percent increase in the number of reported child workers under age In , Brazil recorded the lowest level of child labor since , with 1. This represents 4. Despite the reduction, the situation remains critical, especially for the most vulnerable.
Common activities include some of the worst forms of labor. Regional disparities are evident, with the Northeast and North showing the highest rates of child labor. In Brazil's constitution, child labor is addressed in Article 7, Item The item prohibits night work and any work considered "dangerous or unhealthy" for youth under Minors under age 16 are not allowed to work, except for apprenticeships for minors over 14 years old. Child labor, according to the ILO, [ 9 ] is "work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential, and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development.
The definition of child labor largely depends on the working environment, the legal working age and the type of work done. The organization defines child slavery , child prostitution , child crime such as drug trafficking and any work jeopardizing the safety of children as the worst forms of child labor.
