BRAZIL: UPDATE FOR WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002316

SIPDIS

DOL/ILAB FOR TINA CARTER
DRL/IL FOR LAUREN HOLT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB PHUM SOCI BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: UPDATE FOR WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR
REPORT

REF: STATE 143552


1. Post provides the following in response to reftel's
request for information to update the Worst Forms of Child
Labor Report:


2. The GOB administers a number of programs and projects to
combat child labor and related issues in Brazil. The GOB
will implement the following anti-child labor programs from
2004-2007.

-- Future Worker's School (Escola do Futuro Trabalhador):
This awareness raising campaign, sponsored by the Ministry of
Labor and Employment (MTE),is designed to teach basic labor
rights to low-income elementary and high schools students.

-- Child Labor Mapping System: The Ministry of Labor (MTE)
developed a system to monitor child labor practices
throughout the country. The Special Group to Combat Child
Labor and Protect Adolescent Workers (GECTIPA) is responsible
for updating the system. GECTIPA exist all 26 Brazilian
states and works under the auspices of the "delegacias do
trabalho," police offices that handle labor issues.
Delagacias do trabalho receive and investigate labor abuse
allegations.

-- Labor Inspections: The MTE conducts labor inspections
throughout Brazil to eradicate slave labor. Between January
and August of this year, labor inspectors freed over 2,464
workers. Post does not know what percentage of freed slave
laborers were children or adolescents.

-- GOB Awareness Campaigns: The Ministry of Justice and the
Ministry of Social Development will develop awareness raising
campaigns in coordination with NGOs and international
organizations such as the ILO to combat child labor.

-- Program on the Eradication of Child Labor (PETI): PETI
provides stipends to low income families who have removed
underage children from the work force and placed them into
school. The stipends are designed to help alleviate
financial difficulties that stem from the loss of the child's
income.

-- National Commission to Eradicate Child Labor (CONAETI):
CONATEI is coordinated by the MTE and includes a number of
ministries and organizations. It oversees the implementation
of ILO Conventions 138 and 182, and manages the PETI program.

-- Ministry of Social Development (MDS): MDS has developed an
after school program to assist low-income elementary and high
school students. The program provides educational
assistance, sport instruction, and art-related activities.

-- School stipend program (Bolsa Escola): The Bolsa Escola
program provides stipends to low-income mothers to ensure
that children and adolescents do not leave school to enter
the work force.

Legislation Changes
--------------

3. On March 1 2005, the Brazilian Senate approved three bills
proposed by the Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPI)
to combat child labor and the sexual exploitation of children
and adolescents.


4. A new amendment to the Children and Adolescent's Act plans
to close down any lodging facility that accommodates
unaccompanied children and adolescents. The Senate also
approved a number of changes pertaining to sexual offenses
against minors and the mentally ill. The proposed changes
must be approved by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies before
they become enforceable law.

DANILOVICH