Algeria: “Savage exploitation of children, they work hard in exchange for 100 DA per day”
A lot of children from the southern regions of Algeria have never been to school and they are quite illiterate. The harsh living conditions gripping these unfortunate children hailing from several southern provinces of the country, notably Ghardaîa, Adrar and El Oued, compel them to seek a transient job to earn a meager living for themselves and mostly for their unconscious parents.
- More often than not, they cross hundreds of kilometers in search for a temporary job. Certain unscrupulous local employers “recruit” them by shamelessly exploiting them in return for just 100 Dinars per day.
- Echorouk reporters on assignment in these southern regions met several of these hapless children aged between 8 and 12 notably along the Menéa – Adrar 550 km-long axis where these runaway kids often hitch – hike on the road asking to be driven to Timimoun or Adrar, their two favourites destinations.
- One of these youngsters told Echorouk on the spot that he worked with no respite for a venal craftsman in exchange for only 100 Dinars per day.
- Food and accommodation is ensured by the employer who doesn’t waver to exploit these very young workers without a semblance of humanitarian consideration, he woefully said.
- Others were seen manufacturing traditional swords and knives made of genuine silver under a scorching sun all day long in the town of Adrar.
- One of these exploited children told Echorouk that these silver items they manufacture themselves in inhuman conditions, were sold by their ruthless employers for up 6.000 Dinars a piece while their ludicrous one-day salary doesn’t exceed 100 Dinars or 150 Dinars at the most.
- Others youngsters are employed in Adrar market as sellers of various basic commodities or as conveyers of makeshift carts used for the transport of meat, fruits and vegetables.
- Local security sources told Echorouk that this nefarious phenomenon was unfortunately widespread in numerous regions notably on the occasion of religious feasts like Mawlid Ennabaoui Echarif, Aïd El Fitr and Aïd El Adha in addition to New Year’s Eve celebrations.