Brasília, October 14, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Yesterday (13), world boxing champion, Acelino Freitas, "Popó," received the support of the president of the Federal Labor Court (TST), Francisco Fausto, for the projects he is developing to combat child labor. In a ceremony at the TST, the boxer became emotional when he spoke about his poor childhood, and he said that he came to Brasília not as Popó, but as Acelino Freitas. "I am here today as Acelino, as a person who experienced many difficulties, went hungry, slept on the floor, and has a desire to carry out many social projects in the country," he said.
The Minister paid homage to the fighter by handing him a medal to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Consolidated Labor Laws (CLT), celebrated on November 10. The fighter has two academies that teach boxing free of charge to poor children. One operates in Salvador, the city where Popó was born. The most recent one was opened in Goiânia in June and serves around 200 youngsters between 13 and 18 years of age. "Our idea is not to form athletes but to remove that moment when the youngster is free to do something stupid and get him to train boxing," the pugilist affirmed.
For the president of the TST, child labor is a phenomenon more difficult to stamp out than slave labor, since it has its roots in the country's culture. He recalled that, in families in the Northeast, the figure of "reared children" is common, children who receive education and medical assistance, but who perform household tasks. "Every time you put a child to work, you are steering it away from leisure and education and, therefore, damaging the child's future," he pointed out. The Minister also referred to more serious cases, such as those of children who carry out grueling tasks, in unhealthy or dangerous settings.
Popó cited the National Sample Survey of Residences (PNAD), which indicates that 1.9 million children and adolescents between 7 and 14 years of age do not attend school. "This represents lack of opportunity," he emphasized. The fighter underscored the importance of work, but he recalled that "it has to be at the right moment, at the right time." Despite being prohibited by the Constitution, child domestic labor involves five million Brazilian children and adolescents in the 5-17 age bracket, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). (DAS)
