The World Day Against Child Labor 2005, celebrated next June 12th, will focus on child labor in mines.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) chose this theme because it is considered one of the worst types of children exploitation.
In Brazil, however, the mobilization’s focal point will be the fight against all types of child labor.
According to a 2001 study of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), approximately 5.5 million children and teenagers, ages 5 through 17, are victims of child labor. Of this total, 33.5% work over 40 hours per week.
Activities are diverse, ranging from domestic work to drug trafficking. The IBGE’s research indicates that 43.4% of the victims work on agricultural activities, and 80% are in the economy’s informal sector.
ILO’s data demonstrate that the number of work-related accidents and diseases involving children and teenagers is high.
In 1997, a total of 4,314 compensations were granted for people younger than 18, because of work-related accidents.
Agência Brasil
