The National clap for South Africa

5.10Retail and related

The retail and related sector includes accommodation establishments and fixing of motor vehicles. In the sectoral discussions, provision of services such as washing and guarding of cars, and services in the taxi industry were also included. For the sake of simplicity, all these activities are referred to as 'retail'.

According to the SAYP, the retail industry has the second highest number of working children, regardless of the hour cut-off used. Thus 45% of working girls and 27% of working boys were in the wholesale and retail trade.

Most of these children were working in informal rather than formal situations. Half of them were working without pay in a family business, such as a spaza shop. About one third worked for themselves and the remainder for someone else.

Retail work was prioritised by only two of the nine provinces during consultation workshops. The sectoral workshop on the retail sector was also poorly attended. Work in retail and services is, however, clearly something that needs attention if the BCEA is to be taken seriously.

A number of areas of specific concern emerged during workshops. These areas are discussed separately below, together with the proposed steps to be taken to address them.

5.10.1Work in retail establishments, including informal

The sectoral determination for the retail sector is meant to cover all retail establishments, big or small, formal or informal. In theory, coverage should include informal stalls and spaza shops. The Department of Labour is responsible for monitoring and policing the sectoral determination.

78. 
    DL needs to make special efforts in respect of child labour regarding enforcement of the retail sectoral determination. Strategies should include a widespread publicity campaign. Lead institution: DL. New Policy? Elaboration of existing policy. Once off cost: minimal-moderate cost for publicity campaign. Recurrent cost: minimal recurrent cost. Time line: to be done within one year of adoption of policy.
    

5.10.2Work in shebeens and liquor outlets

This is an area where particularly strong measures should be taken to stop such children under 18 years old from working. It exposes them to liquor and to potential abuse by patrons. Although the law prohibits children from selling or buying liquor, this provision is not enforced effectly.

Provincial departments responsible for enforcing provincial liquor policies should introduce measures ensuring that owners and operators of liquor outlets adhere to the prohibition on children under 18 years working in any capacity in liquor outlets. Action could include regular inspections; a requirement that applicants for liquor licences sign an undertaking that they will not allow children to work in their establishments; and revoking licences where children are found to be working. Lead institution: PPO. Secondary institution: SAPS. New policy? Yes. Once off cost: minimal. Recurrent cost: minimal. Time line: within 2 years of adoption of policy. ILO funding: to cover once off assessment and design costs.

Proposals discussed elsewhere, that should also assist children working retail and related sectors: The national awareness campaign on child labour should encourage the eradication of practices where children are involved in making or selling liquor, or work in establishments where they are exposed to liquor or clients buying liquor. See (22).

5.10.3 ‘Self employment’ as parking attendants or car washers:

This area will not be easy to address, as many of the children who are self-employed in this work are doing the tasks completely independently.

80. 
    Often parking attendants or car washers are employed, or given licences to work by private enterprises such as shops or owners of parking spaces, or by municipalities. These bodies should be alerted on the need to avoid child labour. No licences should be awarded to children under the age of 15 years. Lead institution: Business; Secondary institution: LG. New policy? Yes. Once off or recurrent cost: nil additional cost.

    See also proposals at 7.3.

    
    

5.10.4Work in the taxi industry

Children work in the taxi industry as taxi washers, assistants and in related service occupations. As taxi assistants they often travel with taxis, handling payment. They sometimes also shout the taxi's destination when passing potential clients.

Strong action should be taken to stop children working as taxi assistants as this often leads to their missing school. They are continuously exposed to the risk of accidents, sporadic high levels of violence in the taxi industry and selling drugs.

Vehicle washers and assistants are often 'employed' by taxi drivers, who are themselves employees of taxi owners. The Minister of Labour is planning to introduce a sectoral determination for the taxi industry during 2003.

81. 
    The draft sectoral determination for the taxi industry should outlaw the use of children in this industry. It should deem the taxi owners and taxi drivers to be the co-employers of children working in the industry. Lead institution: ECC; Secondary institution: DL. New policy? Yes. Once off cost / recurrent cost: Nil additional cost.
    
82. 
    The DL and provincial Departments of Transport responsible for registering taxi owners should encourage taxi associations to urge their members not to use children in the industry, and to encourage drivers not to employ children as car washers and in assistants. Lead institution: DL; Secondary institution: DT. New policy. Nil additional cost.