Child labor and labor similar to slavery: monitoring production chains

Abstract

The technological and transport infrastructure advances that favor a wider circulation of products and services, intensifying the increasingly global connection between citizens, companies and other institutions, must also be used to combat the numerous forms of human rights violations. It is urgent to promote the fight against the exploitation of workers in conditions analogous to slavery and the irregular labor of children and adolescents based on detailed knowledge of the characteristics of each production chain by the inspection agencies and the commitment of all those involved in it to (self)inspection at all levels and stages of their processes. Based on the qualitative study, based on the bibliographic research model, it was found that, in addition to the prior and careful analysis of the production chain in all its paths and peculiarities by the inspection agencies, the companies themselves that are part of the same production chain, using compliance and social responsibility parameters, can contribute to achieving greater effectiveness in the actions developed by state agencies and to the enhancement of the entire activity. It is concluded that Brazil can take advantage of the know-how of inspections of production chains that verify the safety and quality of products of plant and animal origin, adapting it to the purpose of monitoring the legal compliance of the various chains with regard to compliance with the standards applicable to labor relations at all stages. Finally, the country also has the opportunity to establish a model framework for action in this field based on Bill No. 572/2022, currently being processed in the Chamber of Deputies, and the Working Group established by the Government through Decree No. 11,772/2023.