The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has issued a firm caution to Nigerians regarding the employment of underage housemaids.
Hassan Tahir, the agency’s Director of Legal and Prosecution, conveyed this warning during a discussion with journalists in Abuja on Monday.
He emphasized that such a practice constitutes a violation of the law.
Tahir advised against employing children as domestic workers, especially considering instances where employers mistreat their employees, sometimes resulting in physical harm.
Citing Section 23 of the Trafficking in Persons Act (TIP), he reiterated that engaging a child as a domestic worker is unlawful.
Tahir quoted Section 23 of the TIP Act as saying “Any person who willfully employs, requests, recruits, transports, harbours, receives or hires out a child as a domestic worker commits an offence and is liable to conviction of imprisonment for a minimum term of 6 months, and not exceeding 7 years”.
He, however, advised that if anyone was willing to have a house help, they must ensure that such was treated fairly.
The director said the house help must sleep in the same room and attend the same school as the kids of the master.
“The domestic worker must attend the same school as your children, eat the same food as your children, wear the same clothes as your children, he or she must be treated equally with your children.
“There could be a situation whereby you employ a child and at the same time inflict injury on him or her if you want to violate their right, please don’t do that, and if certainly you do, NAPTIP will do the needful,’’ he said.
