Portuguese Child Labour: an Enduring Tale of Exploitation

• Published in: European urban and regional studies Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 439 - 444
• Main Authors: Eaton, Martin, Goulart, Pedro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2009; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Child labor; Child labour; Clothing industry; Eradication; Exploitation; Factories; Footwear; Globalization; Industrial production; Informal sector; Labor costs; Labor market; Labour costs; Labour market structure; Manufacturing; Portugal; Supply & demand; Supply and demand; Textiles; Underground economy; Portugal; child labour; Portugal; informal work practice; manufacturing industry
• ISSN: 0969-7764; 1461-7145
• DOI: 10.1177/0969776409340862

Child working remains a significant minority activity in semi-industrialized parts of the Portuguese labour market. This article outlines the scale and spatial extent of the phenomenon before debating the role of children employed in the textiles, clothing and footwear sectors.We consider key determinants governing supply and demand for these workers together with an evaluation of state-sponsored efforts to alleviate the situation. Analysis shows that some factories in mono-industrial parts of north-west and central-eastern interior Portugal are continuing to resist the globalization of competitive pressures.This is achieved by reducing real labour costs, utilizing informal work practices, exploiting the cheap productive capacity which minors bring and the legislative loopholes which prevent its eradication.