Unity state child labour, significant challenge in building a new
nation - South Sudan
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By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
March 24, 2011 (BENTIU) - Child labour appears to be growing in towns
across South Sudan, as parents often have their kids work to help make
ends meet. A child pushes a load down the dusty street, sweating under
the mid-day sun is a common sight these days
JPEG - 24.3 kb
Child labour in South Sudan (Understanding Sudan)
Gorong Reak Riak (10-13 years of age) said that he worked with his
“wheelbarrow and get money, and do get 15 Sudanese Pounds [US$5] and
hired the wheelbarrow from the owner with 3 Sudanese Pounds”, he woked
while his school was closed but planned to return to his education in
the rainy season.
Here in Rubkotna and other towns across Unity state, the numbers of
children like Gorong working on the streets seem to be growing every
day. The most common jobs for the boys are carrying heavy items in
wheelbarrows or on donkeys across town. Young girls below 12 years
work as assistants to tea ladies in the market.
Some kids are being forced to work by their parents in order to help
make ends meet. Other parents are leading the children to head to the
streets to feed themselves. Gorong said, he still attends school when
he can, but many children are forced to work all year round. So far,
the state government has done nothing to curb this common practice or
to help the children.
Kulieng Jany Teni has been working in polishing shoes for four years.
He says he is happy to do the work so he can earn some money. He says
his parents agreed with his decision to do the work and helped with
the family expenses.
He earns about 20SDG per day. In a place where jobs are few and the
economy yet to recover from the war, this can make the difference
between full and empty hands at the end of the day for Kulieng and his
family.
State Minister of gender and child welfare, Nyachieng Biey Tuet told
Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that her ministry is trying to protect
children’s rights in the communities by monitoring their activities in
various markets. She added, this is another way of exploiting
children, rather than allowing them to learn in school. She said some
parents are not responsible and prepare them to work in markets to
earn them money.
Her ministry in collaboration with UNICEF is planning to assist
orphans by offering them good schooling, and for those whose parents
are alive, families are asked to at least fulfil their children’s
basic needs.
(ST)
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