‘I came home from work and found my son with blood stains on his shirt and scratch marks on his back. My house help had beaten him with a hanger because in the morning I had scolded him for something he did wrong’- Banker in Lagos.

This is the recount of a mother of a six (6) year old boy. Her story is not dissimilar to many cases which involve the maltreatment of children put in the care of domestic workers. However, the story does not provide some relevant information. The domestic worker in this case was 16 years old, his employment as a domestic worker is therefore considered illegal under the Nigerian Child Act which prohibits the employment of underage workers (10 - 18years of age). The mother also did not have any background information of the house help. His background, family history, education, religious and cultural history could not be verified from a secondary source. This situation shows the precarious nature of domestic staff placement in Nigeria and the need for families to ensure proper checks prior to hiring domestic workers.

Given the busy schedules of most 21st century couples, domestic staffing has become a priority rather than a luxury. The demand for reliable, safe and qualified nannies and/or domestic staff far outstrips its supply, resulting in increased wages and the reliance of underage domestic workers to fill the gap.

The Child Welfare League of Nigeria suggests that Nigeria may have the largest number of child domestic workers in the world in 2012. This statistic is based on the numerous underage workers serving as domestic staff in households. Research also suggests that under aged domestic workers suffer from physical, emotional and even sexual abuse.

The duties of the underage domestic staff ranges from cooking, cleaning to child care which they are mostly unqualified to provide. However their proliferation is based on the comparatively‘cheap’ wages offered in return for the services rendered. In 2008, according theTimes, the Nigerian police stumbled on 64 girls aged 14 and younger packed inside a refrigerated truck built to haul frozen fish. They had traveled hundreds of miles from central Nigeria and were destined for work as housemaids in Lagos.

The inconvenient and distasteful nature of their travelling conditions aside, one must also consider how many girls are shuffled between states lines in such (possibly) worse conditions? This is especially worrisome as the exploitation and/or movement of these girls are not closely monitored. Therefore there is little evidence to demonstrate that they have been transported willfully and with the consent of their parents or guardians. More worrying is what happens after these girls either run-away or are sacked by their employer. What guarantee is there that they are returned to their homes, parents or loved ones?

Off course one must also consider the economic conditions of underage workers and their family, as in some cases the wages of domestic work is used to support families back in the village. However this should not afford us the opportunity to abscond our duties and the realities of underage working in Nigeria.

SAFE HANDS HOME CARE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES has worked within the domestic staffing industry for three (3) years. Our experience with domestic staff placement has provided the opportunity to understand the importance of thoroughness in background checks for each placement. Such background checks help to ascertain previous history (employment, family etc) as well as ensuring that placements meet with the lifestyle requirements of our clients. Our background,medical checks also ensure the safety of the children placed under the care of domestic staff (as well as protection for the domestic staff from abusive clients) and provide verifiable information for both the current and future clients of such staff.

Our placement procedures also ensure full compliance with the 2003 Nigerian Child Act, which prohibits underage employment of domestic staff. Asides from the above measures, our placement procedures also prioritize the following;

1. Security
2. Knowledge
3. Trust
4. Integrity
5. Dependability

Our placement procedures put us at the forefront of domestic staff recruitment and placement in Nigeria. Our bespoke placement services provide our clients with excellent standards, safety and resultant peace of mind. But our aim goes far beyond the satisfaction of clients, we hope our placement procedures will ultimately become best practice in Nigeria, ensuring compliance with child trafficking laws and safety for our young people.

OUR PROMISE

We are dedicated to finding you “the one”:


How we find your match

We’re pleased to share some highlights with you. And if you’re a professional with excellent experience, we’d love you to get started by filling out our online application. We’d love to find the right match for you.

We learn who you are. What is most important to you? How does work fit into the rest of your life? What are your hobbies and interests? Learning who you are helps us to find an employer who will appreciate you and where you have the opportunity to excel.

We learn exactly what kind of position you are looking for. What do you enjoy? What are you good at? What kind of employer will you work best with? We want to make sure you are happy in your next position.

We write your resume and create a customized profile to present you in your best light. We understand what employers are looking for and how to communicate your strengths.

We carefully match the criteria you are looking for with the jobs our clients are looking to fill. Once we understand your strength and weakness, we’ll be match you on jobs that become available that would be a good fit for you.

We guide you through the interviewing process. We help you to prepare for interviews by sharing the questions that are likely to be asked and reviewing the key points that you should stress to employers. We’ll coach you on how to make your best first impression.

We arrange all of the logistics for you. We’ll make sure you know where you need to be, at what time, and make sure you know how to get there. Creating a positive experience and a favorable impression with every client you meet is important, even if any given employer is not right for you.

We help you make a good decision about your next position. We want to place you in an assignment where you will thrive. We’re in the business of creating lasting matches and we want you and your employer to be happy in the long run.

We help you to review your employment agreement. Ensuring that you and your employer are clear about responsibilities and expectations is the best way to set you up for success in your new position.

We’re here, for as long as you need, to help you with any questions that may arise and ensure that your relationship with your employer is a productive and happy one.