Recent data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reveal that in 2024, approximately 1.6 million children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 were in situations of child labor in Brazil. Alarmingly, less than 1% of this staggering number has been addressed by inspections conducted by the Ministry of Labor. The situation highlights a significant gap in enforcement and support for these vulnerable populations.

According to the Work Inspection Information and Statistics Panel (Radar SIT) from the Ministry of Labor (MTE), only 2,745 minors were removed from child labor situations through fiscal auditing actions in 2024, which translates to a mere 0.2% of the estimated number of affected youth. Furthermore, reports received through Disque 100, a national hotline for reporting child labor abuses, show an increase in awareness and action, with about 4.2 thousand complaints filed in 2024, rising to over 5.1 thousand reports in 2025, indicating a 19.4% increase in reported issues.

The complete lack of effective intervention not only perpetuates the cycle of child labor but also raises significant concerns about broader social governance and the priorities of labor inspection agencies. This issue reflects the urgent need for comprehensive policies and stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect children and eliminate child labor in Brazil, ensuring that their rights to education and a secure childhood are upheld.