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SOCIAL LIFE OF UNDERAGE
WORKERS IN THE CITY
A Qualitative Sociological Thesis
Introduction and Background
This research focuses on the social life of an underage worker living and working in the
city. For privacy, the participant will be called Participant A. He is 17 years old and has
already completed his SSC examination. He wants to complete his HSC education, but at
the same time he has to work to support his family. He currently works in mobile phone
servicing. Before this, he worked at a tea stall. He got the opportunity to work in mobile
servicing through a customer from the tea stall. He went to the interview by himself and
got the job.
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Participant A comes from a family of five. He has his father, mother, elder brother and
younger sister. His father is usually sick and his mother is also unable to work because of
her age. Because of this, Participant A feels that he needs to earn money, especially for
emergency situations and small family needs such as buying meat or other necessary
things.
His work life became more difficult when his elder brother was injured in a road
accident. Participant A had to take responsibility for his brother's work for some time.
Although this was difficult for him, he continued working and became more skilled in
mobile servicing. His skills later became important to his family and also earned him
respect at his workplace.
Work and Daily Life
Participant A's work has become an important part of his daily life. He started working
because his family needed financial support, but over time he also developed a useful
skill. Mobile servicing became more than just a way to earn money for him. He became
interested in the work and improved his knowledge about mobile phones. He believes
that being part of the younger generation helped him understand modern mobile
phones more easily.
His workplace is not always a comfortable environment. Some workers and customers
treat him well, but he also faces rude and selfish behavior from people. These
experiences sometimes hurt him because he considers himself a kind and responsible
person. Still, he does not allow these experiences to stop him from doing his work. After
working for several months, people at the workplace started respecting him because of
his skills and responsible behavior. His boss also started depending on him.
There was also a time when his previous employer contacted him and asked him to
return to the mobile store after testing his skills. He was also given a raise as a bonus.
This showed Participant A that his hard work had value.
However, working at such a young age also means that work takes an important place in
his life while he is still trying to continue his education.
Family, Friends and Community
Family is one of the strongest parts of Participant A's social life. He has a close
relationship with his mother and younger sister. His younger sister especially gives him
motivation. When she asks him to bring something for her, it makes him feel that his
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work is helping his family. His responsibility is not only about earning money but also
about helping the people he loves.
His relationships with friends are also important. After work, he sometimes spends time
with his friends on his way home. On weekends, he likes playing football, which is his
favorite sport. Sometimes he and his friends also go for bike rides by borrowing a bike
from his uncle or someone they know.
However, he does not spend time with everyone in his neighborhood. Some people
around his age have bad influences, including drugs. Participant A strongly dislikes
drugs and tries to stay away from people involved with them. This shows that his social
environment has both positive and negative sides.
Some of his childhood friends and people from his neighborhood now live abroad as
migrant workers. Because of this, he cannot meet many of them regularly, but he still
keeps contact with some people through social media.
Loneliness, Social Media and Social Support
Although Participant A has family and friends around him, his work and responsibilities
sometimes make him feel separated from the community. He said that sometimes he
feels lost among people and does not want to become part of what he sees as the cruel
side of society. To avoid loneliness, he tries to keep himself busy. When he feels very
stressed or lonely, he may share his feelings with his mother, a trusted friend, or friends
who are working abroad.
Social media has become another important part of his social life. After a long day at
work, he uses social media for entertainment and to communicate with friends. It also
helps him stay connected with people who are living outside the country.
One experience made him understand the importance of having a phone. Once, he was
in an emergency situation but did not have a phone with him. When he asked some
people nearby for help, they ignored him. After that experience, he decided to buy a
smartphone. Now he can contact his family quickly through messaging apps when he
needs help. For Participant A, social media and his phone are not only for entertainment.
They also help him feel connected and give him a way to communicate during difficult
situations.
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Helping Others and Changes in His Life
Working has changed Participant A in several ways. Before earning his own money, he
could not easily afford a phone or even pocket money. He also worried about his future
because many young people around him were already using smartphones and becoming
part of the modern world. After starting work, he became more independent and became
an important member of his family.
His work has also changed the way other people see him. His friends and neighbors now
respect him for being responsible and skilled at a young age. He also tries to help other
people. If someone he knows needs a job, he sometimes helps them find one. He and his
friends sometimes collect money for sick people or help people who are in need. He is
not a member of any formal organization, club, or association, but he still takes part in
small acts of social help.
Participant A feels that working has improved his understanding of right and wrong. He
has learned to make some decisions for himself and his family. However, his story also
shows that becoming responsible at a young age can come with pressure. He has
responsibilities that many people his age may not have.
Future Plans and Reflection
Participant A has big plans for his future. He wants to go abroad for work and has already
researched the market and thought about mobile servicing as a possible career. In the
future, he hopes to open a mobile servicing shop of his own. His main reason for
wanting to go abroad is his family. He does not want his parents to continue working
hard when they become older. He wants to improve the financial condition of his family.
He also advises other young people who need money to learn useful skills before coming
to the city. He believes that mobile servicing is a good skill because the mobile phone
market is growing and skilled workers are needed. He watches YouTube videos and
believes that learning from them can help young people improve their skills. He also
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advises people to contact someone they know before coming to the city because finding
work without support can make life harder.
Participant A's story shows that the social life of an underage worker is connected to
many things. Work gives him money, skills, confidence and respect, but it also brings
responsibility and pressure at a young age. He still wants to continue his education while
working. His dreams are bigger than his present situation, but his efforts show that he
does not want his family's current condition to decide his future. For him, working is not
only about earning money. It is also about building a better life for himself and his
family.
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