[xBhp Universal Thread]: Child Labor at Mfg Authorized service Stations

[TomSawyer]

Child labor is deplorable, but there are few other concerns. (Child labor is used at the neighborhood mechanic too, but first dig at Authorized SS, )

1. The min. permissible age for license to drive a geared MV is 18 yrs. Few Service centers have mechanics much younger. How is our bike indemnified, when they take the bikes for a ride, & there is a crash.

2. At one particular SS, an urchin takes out a bike for a spin. I heard the SS Head say, the bike is being taken out for break-in . Some them can’t get both their feet down at the same time. So when they unmount from the left, the bike tips to the right, & the tank, fairing gets dents, scratches.

I doubt if the manufacturers are aware of this practice at SS at all.
Guys, your take on this.

Slightly OT. Why aren’t the quality practices at the manufacturing plant followed at the SS too? After all the mfr's commitment doesn't end with the sale. Imagine our FZ16, Gladiators, R15s got the same meticulous attention as in the mfg plant. Sigh, Far cry .

[Aryan]

Universal Thread Approved.

Thankfully, this is not the case at the PBK service center (Bajaj) here, in Delhi. I am not sure about other places. I would agree however that local road-side mechanics do employ children for many petty jobs like repairing a puncture, or changing engine oil, etc.

[ken cool]

Have not seen too many children being employed at authorised SS in Delhi. Though children below 15 are being used regularly at roadside joints for bike, car and truck repairs. They do not get any education (most government schools in villages have nominal fees). And parents/elders do not take care to make sure that these kids get to school instead of learning a so-called hands-on practise on a trade. Deplorable yes!

[Haroon]

Sure, this is a sad situation.
But, take a real life scenario- You are touring on your belowed bike and have a puncture in the middle of nowhere. Then you push the bike for 2kms to the nearest village and the first puncture shop has only a 12 year-old competantly fixing punctures on other vehicles. What do you do- Do you push the bike further to find another puncture shop (if one exists) with a guy over the legal age to fix your puncture or do you decide to solve your problem at the first shop itself??

[Mindgrinder]

i sometimes feel child labor is too much of noise in india, with the kind of situation we have here most of the children have no option rather than working, i agree some are forced but how would you seggregate?

Well here at bangalore service center i checked there was no one to consider child labor.

[TomSawyer]

Originally Posted by Mindgrinder

i sometimes feel child labor is too much of noise in India, with the kind of situation we have here most of the children have no option rather than working

You are right. My prime reason for worry was SS mechs aged below 18 yrs manhandling our bikes, & the associated risks.. & the thought that in supporting the pleasure activity we love so much, someone's future is likely compromised