By Amadou Manjang
People have raised concerns over the growing trend of child labour in the Gambian markets and car parks.
They lamented its lasting impact on the lives of the children involved.
According to the US Department of Labour’s International Child Labour & Forced Labour Report 2023, children in the Gambia work in services such as domestic work and street work, including begging and vending. Some scavenge at dumpsites, markets, and car parks, particularly as attendants to commercial vehicles in the transportation sector.
According to the Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2022-23 on Labour Force, ‘the proportion of children in child labour stands at 22.9 per cent.
The incidence of child labour increases with age, ranging from 21.5 per cent among children aged 5-14 to 28.5 per cent in the age group 15-17.
When Foroyaa visited the markets and car parks, the reporter found a significant number of children were selling clothes, begging or working as attendants to commercial vehicles in the car park.
Some of the children spotted were working on their own, while others were spotted working under the supervision of their parents or guardians.
The children Foroyaa spoke to lamented that they are asked by their parents to work and contribute to their families due to their poverty. Many of the children were working with permission from their parents/ guidance.
Mamjara, a parent and vendor, said she brought her child so that she could help her sell the goods.
When asked whether this is not child labour, she argued that she does not see anything wrong with her child helping her. ‘After all, whatever I earn is for the family.’
Unlike Mamjara, Mariama Ceesay argued that it is wrong for a child to work, whether helping the parents or not. She argued that places of work, such as markets, are not good places to raise a child because they expose children to lots of negative things.
‘These places are a harmful environment for children to spend their time in,’ she added.
Sirra Dumbuya said it is stressful for the children to assume the responsibility of an adult. This, she noted, could increase the children’s risk of having mental health problems.
‘It also makes it very difficult to raise the children properly because they are working in an environment where they are exposed to all sorts of people and things which can ruin them,’ Hatab Manneh said.
He further stated that child labour in the long term has potential consequences on the health and well-being of the children due to the conditions they work under.
“Forcing your child to work only reinforces the cycles of poverty, it does not alleviate it because the children are not given the chance to release their potential,’ Salifu Jatta said.
Salifu argued that parents should allow their children to realise their potential by allowing them to go to school and enjoy their childhood rather than taking them to the streets and markets to contribute to the family.
‘Parents should take care of the children, not the other way around,’ Kaddy Bojang said. ‘But when you speak to these children engaging in child labour, you will realise that parents are forcing their children to provide for them, and this is wrong.’
Like Kaddy, those interviewed called on the government to help address child labour in many sectors and put them back in school.
The government has made moderate advancements in its efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour through the Zero Out of School Children project, as well as the government’s Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria to coordinate efforts to address human trafficking.
However, according to the US Department of Labour, the Gambian Government has insufficient social programs to address child labour in the country.
