Relações entre o Programa de Prevenção e Erradicação do Trabalho Infantil e o Programa Bolsa Família

Abstract

This article debates the relations existing between the two largest Brazilian socioeconomic programs that have served to combat child labor: Erradicacao do Trabalho Infantil Program (PETI) and the Bolsa Familia Program (PBF). From an economic point of view, the theory of Human Capital has emphasized the importance of instruction in the first educational stages since it serves as the basis for the future learning process itself. In Brazil, child labor has historical roots, in the formation of its economy, but the intensification of its struggle, from an economic point of view, only occurred with the transfer of income, starting in 1996 with the creation of PETI. This effort was improved in 2001 with the creation of Bolsa Escola, in 2003 with the emergence of the PBF, and 2005 through the integration between PETI and the PBF. In this context, the paper discusses, through a bibliographic review, the problem of child labor and Brazilian initiatives to combat it based on the common points identified among these programs: institutional evolution, short-term economic incentives, and the relationships between the two largest programs that have combined the short and long term benefits through income transfer conditioned to school presence – PETI and PBF.