Domestic child labor dropped in Brazil, says survey

Criado em 12/06/13 14h08 e atualizado em 14/06/13 09h28
Por Carolina Sarres Edição:Graça Adjuto /Nira Foster Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – The National Forum for the Prevention of Child Labor in Brazil (“FNPETI”) released an update on Wednesday (June 12), the World Day Against Child Labor. According to the report, domestic child labor in the country dropped 30% from 362,800 cases in 2009 to 258,000 in 2011. Children and teenagers aged 10-13 accounted for over 30,100 of domestic child workers. In the 14-15 age range, cases amounted to 92,400, in addition to another 135,000 aged 16-17.

Out of the total number of cases reported in 2011, over 102,600 were found in the Northeast, one of the country's poorest regions. The region's state with the most cases was Bahia, with 26,500 cases. Nationwide, Minas Gerais was on the top of the list with 31,300 children and teenagers engaged in domestic labor.

The data used in the report was from a study entitled “Domestic Labor in Brazil” (“O Trabalho Doméstico no Brasil”), based on information from the National Household Sampling Survey (“Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios – Pnad”).

A majority of the young domestic workers were found to be females (93.7%), reflecting a worldwide pattern where over 73% of domestic child labor is female. As for color, a majority of the youth reported to be working as household servants are black – 67% (172,600).

The latest Brazilian census on the topic found an estimated 3.7 million children and teenagers aged 5-17 working in Brazil. Out of these, 7% are engaged in domestic work, accounting for 3.9% of the total domestic workforce in Brazil (about 7 million people).

Edition: Graça Adjuto /Nira Foster
Translation: Mayra Borges / Allen Bennett