Mexico City, August 20 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Mexican authorities Wednesday rescued 54 minors who were working under slavery-type conditions as they were paid about US$6 a day for a nine-hour work shift six days a week and half a day on Sundays, while receiving two meals a day that consisted of coffee and bread in the morning and a second meal after work.

The Attorney General of the northern state of Coahuila said there were over 200 children between the ages of eight and 13 working at the ranch police raided, but most of them managed to escape police detention.
  
The Coahuila government spokesman Victor Zamora reminded reporters that child labor is prohibited in Mexico.

The Attorney General's office reported three persons were arrested in connection with the exploitation of minors at the ranch.

In April, the Mexican National Council for Discrimination Prevention said over 124,000 children in Mexico are forced to work in order to afford food and clothing, to contribute to the household income, or to attend school.

The study explained how two out of 10 Mexican youth involved in domestic work are between the ages of five and 13. They are also often employed under risky conditions because there is no regulation on the employment of children in the country. Children can, and do get caught in situations of violence, exploitation or mistreatment, said the researchers.

Also in April, the Mexican senate ratified the International Labor Organization's “convention 138,” which sets a minimum age to be allowed to enter the formal workforce, making it illegal for children to work.

However, experts said his was a dangerous move in Mexico where children living in poverty will continue to look for work and be employed illegally, without access to labor rights.