Child labour: the difference between abuse and normal child labor
In Nigeria, many children under the age of fourteen work outside their homes: they work as domestic helpers, street vendors, bus drivers, as well as waiters in bars and eating places. Some wash cars, sell newspapers or carry heavy loads to the market.
This type of work is called child labour. Child labor endangers the health and safety of children. Very often, work prevents them from going to school or delays their education. Does not allow children to play games, watch TV, play games or do other things that children love to do.
It is true that in most Nigerian communities, young children have always been used to sell products in the town or city. Children sell goods by calling out their wares or going door-to-door. However, this takes place in towns where the children are well known and quite safe. In such cases, children trumpet things very early before they go to school or after they come back from school.
On the other hand, in the big cities, children preach from morning to night. They hawk in the marketplace, car parks, mechanic towns, busy highways, and construction sites. Many of the children live with relatives or on the streets.
Young children who sell merchandise are in great danger. They can be hit by cars, injured by motor scrappers, beaten and injured by adults. Young street vendors can also be harassed by adult men. Furthermore, young street vendors learn bad behaviors such as lying, cheating, stealing and insulting people. Many of the young street vendors regularly miss school. Even when they go, they are too tired to listen in class or do their homework at the end of the day.
Despite all the disadvantages discussed above, it is important to remember that some situations force children to work. This may be because their families do not have enough money; so the children have to work to earn some extra money. Some children have to find money to pay their fees, school uniforms, books and other things. Some tutors ask the children to falcon in order to pay for their food.
It is quite clear that many adults are unaware that there are laws prohibiting child labor in Nigeria. Some who know the law say that in our culture children are expected to work and earn some money to help their families. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between normal child labor and child abuse.