Esala Seuta, 49, of Link Road of Lautoka yesterday praised the move by Lautoka City Council to legalise and register wheelbarrow boys.

“This is really great that we can be officially recognised as service providers, and I thank the Lautoka City Council for doing this for us,” Mr Seuta said.

He said the move by the council would change people’s mindset about wheelbarrow boys.

“We are usually looked down upon but people don’t realise what we go through to put food on the table for our families.”

He said he was balancing being a market vendor and a wheelbarrow boy as these were his only sources of income.

“This is the first year I’m trying this out because I have five children; two working and one currently at QVS (Queen Victoria School).

“My wife and I have a stall in the market and working as a wheelbarrow boy has helped me buy a table for our produce; many don’t know this but it’s actually good money,” he said.

The Muana, Kadavu native sells vegetables, dalo and cassava at the Lautoka Market with his wife everyday.

He said on a day when business is good he usually earns more than $50 however during the weekdays he earns about $40 or less.

“The big days for us here are on Fridays and Saturdays because that’s when we get a lot of customers.

“I get about six to seven fixed customers in the weekend but other than that we usually just serve anyone,” Mr Seuta said.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti

Feedback:  saloteq@fijisun.com.fj