Editing Child labour (section)

=== Brazil ===
{{main|Child labour in Brazil}}
[[File:Crianca Lixao 20080220 - Marcello Casal Jr. - Agencia Brasil.jpg|thumb|[[Child labour in Brazil]], leaving after collecting recyclables from a landfill]]

Child labour has been a consistent struggle for children in [[Brazil]] ever since Portuguese colonisation in the region began in 1500.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=419}} Work that many children took part in was not always visible, legal, or paid. Free or slave labour was a common occurrence for many youths and was a part of their everyday lives as they grew into adulthood.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=417}} Yet due to there being no clear definition of how to classify what a child or youth is, there has been little historical documentation of child labour during the colonial period. Due to this lack of documentation, it is hard to determine just how many children were used for what kinds of work before the nineteenth century.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=419}} The first documentation of child labour in Brazil occurred during the time of indigenous societies and slave labour where it was found that children were forcibly working on tasks that exceeded their emotional and physical limits.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=418}} Armando Dias, for example, died in November 1913 whilst still very young, a victim of an electric shock when entering the textile industry where he worked. Boys and girls were victims of industrial accidents on a daily basis.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=424}}

In Brazil, the minimum working age has been identified as fourteen due to constitutional amendments that passed in 1934, 1937, and 1946.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=428}} Yet due to a change in the [[dictatorship]] by the military in the 1980s, the minimum age restriction was reduced to twelve but was reviewed due to reports of dangerous and hazardous working conditions in 1988. This led to the minimum age being raised once again to 14. Another set of restrictions was passed in 1998 that restricted the kinds of work youth could partake in, such as work that was considered hazardous like running construction equipment, or certain kinds of factory work.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=428}} Although many steps were taken to reduce the risk and occurrence of child labour, there is still a high number of children and adolescents working under the age of fourteen in Brazil. It was not until recently in the 1980s that it was discovered that almost nine million children in Brazil were working illegally and not partaking in traditional childhood activities that help to develop important life experiences.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=429}}

Brazilian census data (PNAD, 1999) indicate that 2.55 million 10- to 14-year-olds were illegally holding jobs. They were joined by 3.7 million 15- to 17-year-olds and about 375,000 5- to 9-year-olds.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Due to the raised age restriction of 14, at least half of the recorded young workers had been employed illegally, which led to many not being protected by important labour laws.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} Although substantial time has passed since the time of regulated child labour, there are still many children working illegally in Brazil. Many children are used by drug cartels to sell and carry drugs, guns, and other illegal substances because of their perception of innocence. This type of work that youth are taking part in is very dangerous due to the physical and psychological implications that come with these jobs. Yet despite the hazards that come with working with drug dealers, there has been an increase in this area of employment throughout the country.{{sfn|Lieten|Meerkerk|2011|p=421}}