Two underage boys were on Thursday found working at a grocery at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, and their parents later told Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) officers that they needed the money to support their families.
The boys, ages 12 and 14, were summoned to the CC&PA office in Region Five and then to the Fort Wellington Police Station along with their mothers and the proprietor of the shop, after officers received information about the situation. Another 14-year-old boy who also worked at the shop was not there at the time when the officers visited.
In addition to the police, the Schools’ Welfare Department was also called in to conduct an investigation into the case. It is unclear whether charges will be filed.
The mothers and the shop owner told CC&PA officers they were sorry and promised that it would not happen again. The women said they were sending their children to work because their families need the income and the shop owner said he was just trying to “help them out.”
However, an officer advised them that the children have a right to be provided with an education and that it is an offence to send them to work at such young ages.
The employment of children is an offence under the Employment of Young Persons and Children Act. However, reports are that a number of other young boys have been employed at business entities in Berbice. Stabroek News learnt that some employers prefer to hire the boys because of the “cheap labour.” Some also claim that they have not been finding older persons to take up the jobs.
The CC&PA officer also told the proprietor that he could be locked up because it was not the first time he was caught breaking the law. The officer told the mothers that if they could not afford to send their children to school, they could have applied for public assistance.
Their mothers said the boys started working in the afternoons after school and on weekends but recently started working full-time. The mother of the 12-year-old said she also has four other children—ages 2, 15, 18 and 19— who she had raised them all single-handedly.
The mother of one of the 14-year-olds said her son was in third form and started working because her husband is a heavy drinker and would hardly work and contribute to the household. She promised to seek more domestic work with residents instead of depending on her son to bring in an income. The woman said she would also ensure that he starts school again. The mother of the other child said he was “working to get passage for school.” The woman, who also has two other children, ages two and 10 year, said she is finding it difficult financially.
Her husband, who is a logger in the interior, returns home every two months but his income is insufficient to support the family. She also said she has to find $12,000 rent every month in order to keep a roof over their heads.
