The Exploitation of Children as Itinerant Street Vendors in Poor Families in Surabaya City

Abstract

The involvement of children from poor families as street vendors highlights the tension between a child's contribution to the family's economic survival and the protection of their rights. This study analyzes the experiences of child street vendors on Jalan Tunjungan, Surabaya, focusing on family economic pressures, schooling, health, safety, and the meaning of work to the children. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed. Data were gathered through non-participant observation, field notes, and interviews with six school-aged vendors (10–13 years old) in October 2023. The data were coded, compared across informants, and interpreted using Max Weber’s perspective on social action. The findings reveal that the children generally worked from the end of the school day until nightfall, with durations ranging from four to seven hours for those with documented schedules. Their involvement was linked to limited household income, parental job instability, and a desire to help their mothers or younger siblings. Although some children described the activity as a voluntary choice or a habit, these choices were shaped by intense economic pressure. Vending activities reduced time available for studying, resting, and playing, while also exposing the children to risks regarding nutritional needs, fatigue, nighttime mobility, and street safety. The analysis identifies instrumental-rational, affective, and traditional action orientations in children's actions. The findings indicate that economic exploitation cannot be assessed solely based on the presence of direct coercion; family pressure, limited choices, and the diminished fulfillment of children's rights must also be taken into account.

Keywords: Exploitation, Children, Poverty, Social action, Family.