“Consider children’s security when employing domestic staff”

Residents of Karu in Nasarawa state have advised parents to take security precautions when recruiting the services of domestic staff because of the increasing cases of child abuse in the society.

The residents gave the advice in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday at New Nyanya and Maararabab in Karu Local Government area of the state.

They argued that although the presence of domestic staff in homes allowed career parents to pursue their careers or vocations, before leaving children in the hands of such staff, it is necessary to know the history of the staff before employing them.

Mr Effiong Okon, a civil servant, said “employing domestic staff is not a bad idea if only the person is from a good background.“

Okon said that most parents engaged domestic staff in order to be relieved of stress, especially the working class couples but that at times, the results were not usually palatable. “It only takes the grace of God for one to get a good house help.”

“Some of them come with ulterior motives, either for revenge for the pains and anguish they have passed through in somebody else’s house.”

Mrs Grace Destiny, a housewife, says that she strongly opposed the employment of domestic staff, adding “I won’t advise anybody to employ one’’.

According to Destiny, cases of child assault and other vices carried out by domestic staff have been on the increase especially the children that had lost their lives in the process.

However, Mrs Vicky Peter, a beauty therapist, said employment of domestic staff had its pros and cons.

According to Peter, the employer is at risk because he or she does not know the person he or she is dealing with or leaving the children with. “Based on parents’ schedules, you hardly know the domestic staff is impacting on your children, especially those that have negative influence.”

It has become essential for employers to thoroughly verify the background of prospective employees before hiring them into their homes or businesses. Our society is filled with impostors posing as cleaners, drivers, shop assistants, security guards, etc.