AMERICA/URUGUAY - Child labor and gender discrimination for Afro-Uruguayan children

Friday, 30 November 2012

Montevideo (Agenzia Fides) - According to data from the National Statistics Institute of Uruguay, 10.6% of the Uruguayan population is of African descent, about 13.4% in the age group ranging from 5 to 17. The majority are boys, girls and adolescents of African descent who are subjected to child labor which is often dangerous. To examine the current situation, the "Fundación Telefónica Uruguay" has carried out the study "Trabajo infantil en niños, niñas y adolescentes afrodescendientes en Uruguay. Descubriendo Horizontes de integración " highlights that 29.8% of children of African descent between 5 and 17 years of age in Uruguay are engaged in some form of paid or unpaid work. We are talking about 27,485 minor workers. The children in the age group between 9 and 14 and male adolescents between 15 and 17 account for 80% of those who work with remuneration. The women in the three age groups considered, however, account for over 60% of those engaged in unpaid work. In addition to the problem of child labor, in Uruguay there is also gender and ethnic discrimination. For all age groups examined, working women are more than men. The study also indicates the intergenerational reproduction of poverty. In fact, because of poor family conditions, many are forced to go to work from an early age, and risk being exploited. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 30/11/2012)


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