Banned by the Beninese legislator, child labor and exploitation remain a reality in the country. On construction sites, in careers, the fields and especially the markets, many of these children are exploited for various jobs despite the threats of the authorities.
Mardi 25 May 2021, it's market day in Pahou in the commune of Ouidah, It is 14 h and despite the sun beating down, Dorcas 10 years old wanders in the market with a tray on his head in which are placed a dozen piles of onions.
Like Dorcas, many other small children spend most of their days in these markets for the sake of their guardians to whom they are accountable at the end of the day. This is the case of Benjamin, old 12 years. Dressed in a bad outfit, this young boy walks around the market looking for some luggage to carry in exchange for silver coins. "I haven't been to school for two years.. I come to the market (Pahou market) to look for some money to take care of myself”, let know the man's end in the Fon language. Benjamin is not the only one to be forced to leave the benches to take care of himself, also engaged in work or even being exploited.
Further away, at the Cococodji market, the observation is the same, many children charge over the head and or behind displays, pretend to be traders. “I come to the market to help my aunt sell her products. In the morning, I stay in the shop and in the afternoon, I do itinerant sales. We stay in the market often until 20 h », inform Sylvie 12 years.
Yet the law forbids it.
Exploitation and child labor are a reality in the markets of Benin and one may wonder what role the managers of these markets play in the eradication of this phenomenon. ? Difficult to find a convincing answer since these ladies who are called “AHi Gan” (Chefs in French)’, are complicit in this practice. See children being exploited or in adult-like working conditions, you don't just have to go to the markets since they are also on construction sites or workshops.
In 2011 through Decree No. 2011-029 of 31 January 2011 the then government established the list of hazardous work prohibited for children in the Republic of Benin. Among the said works is the itinerant sale, in markets or in shops and many other trades. Despite the denunciations and warnings, we can see the extent of the situation. Seeing children carrying heavy loads on construction sites, Authorized or prohibited, malgré leur jeune âge n’est pas nouveau pour le Béninois.
Firmin KASSAGA