Shocking: 1,300 Child Laborers in Quintana Roo

The Child Protection System (Sipinna) in Quintana Roo has recently reported that approximately 1,300 children across the state are involved in some form of labor. This number increases by 50% during the holiday season.

The children, ranging in age from 5 to 13 years old, are primarily found to be selling popsicles, chewing gum, or flowers, and cleaning windshields. The majority of cases involve children between the ages of 8 and 13.

These child laborers are exposed to a variety of risks. They are vulnerable to being targeted by organized crime, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, often in the form of forced begging.

Norma Gabriela Salazar Rivera, Executive Secretary of Sipinna, stressed the importance of addressing child labor comprehensively. She emphasized the need to consider the rights and well-being of the children involved in order to protect them from dangerous situations.