Alone Maranhão, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Sul currently have a ten-year plan in place for the prevention and eradication of child labor. In the other 24 states and the Federal District, the plans are either out of date, being updated, yet to be published, or completely absent.
This is what emerges from the study “Mapping of State and Federal District Plans for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor and the Protection of Adolescents at Work”, made by National Forum for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor (FNPETI).
According to the report, the lack of updated planning undermines the effectiveness of public policies, leaving many children and adolescents without adequate protection. Without clear objectives, ongoing monitoring, and coordination between institutions, interventions are fragmented, difficult to evaluate, and vulnerable to changes in government.
The Executive Secretary of FNPETI, Katerina Volcov, attributes this situation mainly to the low political priority assigned to the issue, limited collaboration between state administrations, reduced government support and the weakening of civil society, which plays a key role in monitoring public policies.
The study also highlights that over 76% of state forums It fails to regularly monitor the results of existing initiatives. Major obstacles include a lack of financial and human resources, high staff turnover, poor planning, and the absence of ongoing evaluation systems.
A further concern is the growth of new forms of child exploitation in digital environments, especially through social networks. To address this challenge, Brazil recently introduced the so-called ECA Digital, which updates the Statute of Children and Adolescents with specific rules for the protection of minors online and for the regulation of artistic activities carried out by children and adolescents.
The FNPETI proposes that all States adopt or update their plans taking as a reference the IV National Plan for the Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor, adapting it to specific local realities and guaranteeing financial resources, qualified personnel, and the participation of civil society and the adolescents themselves.
The most recent data fromIBGE show that, at the end of 2024, approximately 100,000 children were engaged in child labor in Brazil. 1.65 million children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years old, with an increase of 2.1% compared to 2023. Of these, 586 thousand They carried out activities considered among the worst forms of child exploitation according to Brazilian law and the conventions of the International Labour Organization.
Finally, the report calls for the urgent need to transform the fight against child labor into a truly stable state policy, independent of political changes, so that Brazil can meet the commitments made under the United Nations 2030 Agenda for the elimination of the worst forms of child labor.