4 Reasons Not to Employ a Minor as a Maid

In Nigeria, it is a common practice to employ maids who we refer to as ‘house helps’. This is not wrong or bad. It only becomes a bit of an issue when a child or minor is hired. A lot of families hire children the same age as their children or younger, for reasons best known to them. This is actually child labour, which often times, is not favorable.

We hope that these 5 reasons will convince you not to to hire a minor as a maid:

1. He/She is a minor

This is as clear as it can be. There are a lot of things that you will expect of someone who you employ to take care of your environment and home. Let us not also forget that the limited age of this child, puts the child at risk of acting below expectation, and putting your life and theirs in danger. You would expect a 10-year old girl to sweep, wash, clean, mop and get your children ready for school and other errands?  The work load is too much for those little shoulders. And the more overwhelmed she gets, the greater the possibility that she will be unable to pay attention to vital tasks, which may in the end lead to safety challenges when it comes to taking care of your children.

2. He/She is someone’s child

Bear in mind that the same way you carried your children for 9 months, pushed them out and nursed them, is the same way this person’s mother went through the same process. Put your self in the mother’s position, how would you feel if your 9, 10, 12 year old child was working as a maid in someone’s house, being subjected to back-breaking work and being disciplined in ways that may not be appropriate for a child of her age.

3. Your children’s lives are at risk

A child needs supervision from an adult, not a fellow child. The underaged child who you have employed, is still growing and learning, and as such, cannot be a proper care taker for your 3 or 4 year old. No matter how cautious, watchful or diligent the child/caretaker promises to be, the level of diligence and caution an adult will posses will not be present, and as such, the lives of your children are potentially at risk.

4. You could be faced with a criminal charge

Often times, people take the slave and master approach to their maids, especially the young ones. They go as far as starving and brutalizing them in the name of discipline. They sure would not discipline their own children in such brutal ways. There are a lot of child’s rights organizations and bodies that pick up cases of underage children who are maltreated in people’s homes, more often than not, these people are undergo trial for child endangerment. To prevent such problems, it is advisable to hire an adult or older individual as a maid.