INTRODUCTION: The city of Limeira, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, is the largest cluster of companies producing jewelry and costume jewelry in the country. It features outsourcing and child labor exploitation, bringing harm to workers' health. To address this problem an Inter-sectorial Network was organized. OBJECTIVE: Describe actions and highlight the limits and potentialities of the Network building and consolidation processes. METHODS: The authors conducted a case study, combining documental analysis, and researchers' direct participation in the activities carried out between 2007 and 2011. RESULTS: They analyzed the cultural, ideological and institutional aspects that determined the situation as well as the actions that produced changes. An important action was the settlement of an agreement called "Termo de Ajustamento de Conduta" (Conduct Adjusting Terms), which ensured implementing the coordinated actions and the Occupational Health Program, organizing events to raise awareness and mobilize the population, as well as working groups with permanent discussions aiming at articulating the Network. CONCLUSION: The Network has encouraged an ongoing process of cultural and institutional transformation to deal with child labor. However, it is crucial that new contributions are offered to involve the entrepreneurs in this process of change.
child labor; public policy; health promotion; jewelry and costume jewelry production
