BIG BASINS ON LITTLE HEADS

Source: nairaland.com

I see them everyday. 6 year olds who can barely cross the busy highway racing each other for a sell with big basins of satchette water, gala, or maybe bread. Boys and girls meant to be in school to be trained as 'change agents' in the society. Are left roaming the streets looking for change to give customers.

But then everybody is hustling and trying to make a few pennies to keep themselves alive on earth. So I guess we are too busy to notice the big basins on these little heads. Maybe that is why the United Nations and the ILO(International Labour Organization) set aside June 12 as World Day Against Child Labour to prick our consciences to reflect on the horrible situation these little ones are in.

The focus of the ILO in marking World Day Against Child Labour this year is on stopping child labour is domestic work. Aha!!! This is another one, we often block our ears to the cries of that 'housegirl' starved for days because her palms were too soft and small to wash Ogas big jeans troussers. What about that 'houseboy' that is beaten mercilessly because he went outside to play soccer with other kids like him--trying to have a normal childhood.

Source: ilo.org

Child labour in domestic work is already a norm in this country. I mean, the clichè is; go to the village get a small girl, bring her to your house in the city, throw her into the kitchen, get her to do all the lundry, the dishes, etc. While your kids run around the living room scattering everything, because the little village girl is always there to arrange it over and over and over again--so they can scatter as they like.

Although I personally think Humans would always find a way to survive; a way to eat, a place to sleep, a 'feild' to work. . .In the Jungle it's survival of the fittest, Yet as higher animals we have leaders who should have our best interests at heart. The abscence of which is child labour amongst other decadence. So I will neither blame the child trying to survive by working nor the user of child labour--as far as the child is paid well for the services rendered and treated like a human being.

But again, I still think we need to RAISE THE STANDARD when it comes to this issue. Are Kids meant to be on the street hawking or in the classroom? If we claim slave trade is really over, then this 'houseboy/housegirl maltreatment' must stop. . .there's just so much to talk about. (exhales) I really wish we had a social welfare system in this country.