A educação e o combate ao trabalho infantil: Um estudo sobre o Sistema Único de Assistência Social (SUAS) no município de Uberlândia - MG (1988/2023)

Abstract

Child labor is a multifaceted phenomenon, which involves several dimensions, such as economic, social, cultural, and historical contexts. It violates the fundamental right of children and adolescents to be free from work, limiting or even preventing access to other essential rights. Article 227 of the Federal Constitution, together with articles 4 and 53 of the Statute of Children and Adolescents (ECA), establishes that it is the duty of the family, society, and the State to ensure, with absolute priority, that children, adolescentes, and young people, are granted all the rights provided for in these provisions, highlighting the principle of human dignity, which is the foundation of the Brazilian Democratic State of Law. However, the historical and contemporary reality of child labor contrasts with the principles of comprehensive protection established by law. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the issue of child labor, education through work, and its impact on social classes, with an emphasis on the poorest and most vulnerable groups. The research will delve into the historical and contemporary context of the phenomenon in order to understand the current scenario of this problem. The dissertation will be based on the main legislation relevant to the topic, such as the Federal Constitution of 1988, the Statute of Children and Adolescents, and the Conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), ratified by Brazil. Additionally, the research will seek to differentiate child labor from family support, analyzing the harm caused to children and adolescents, with special attention to the impacts on education. Quantitative data on child labor in Brazil will be presented and ways to prevent and eradicate the problem will be discussed, based on official government manuals and the main theoretical contributions on the topic. To justify the choice of the topic, the dissertation will also address the researcher's personal and professional trajectory, reflecting on her development as an individual and her career progression, based on her lived experiences. Finally, the situation of child labor in the city of Uberlândia - MG will be explored through unstructured interviews with a labor prosecutor and a labor inspector, along with a survey of the municipal public policies currently in force.