I ALWAYS love to read Helen Mead’s column and her recent one was no exception (The Press, May 17).
I could just imagine the way her daughter viewed her first day at work; probably so different from what she expected.
Many jobs are boring, but they have to be done, and I was reminded of the working conditions faced by women in a cashew nut factory during our recent tour of India.
From morning until early evening, they had to shell cashews, dropping the shells on the floor to be swept up by other women wielding brooms; I cannot say which job was the most soul-destroying, but these women considered themselves fortunate.
At least they had jobs; and the factory boasted a crèche, where its workers could leave babies and small children, who were kept fed and clean, but appeared to enjoy no stimulation. For this work the women earned 100 rupees a day – a little over a pound.
On leaving, we were given a bag of cashews with a well-known supermarket’s name on them who are at least providing work for Indian women. Perhaps jobs in this country aren’t too bad after all.
Heather Causnett, Escrick Park Gardens, Escrick, York.
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