Kédougou : sous la chaleur du Ramadan, les vulcanisateurs réclament la modernisation de leurs outils de travail
In Kédougou, the Ramadan period coincides this year with a severe heatwave, making working conditions particularly difficult for many informal sector workers. Among them, tire repairers, those who set up shop along the roads and in neighborhoods, are facing increasingly challenging workdays.
Under a blazing sun and often with rudimentary tools, these craftsmen strive to meet the needs of motorists and motorcyclists. To limit the impact of the heat and fasting, most of them begin their work very early in the morning.
“We have to come before sunrise to work a little before the heat becomes unbearable,” says Kéwouling Samoura, a tire repairman we met near the Kédougou bus station. “During Ramadan, it’s even harder because we can’t eat or drink. But customers keep coming, and we have to work to feed our families,” he adds.
In their small, makeshift workshops, the tools are often old and safety equipment is almost non-existent. Repairs are sometimes carried out directly on the ground, using hand pumps and instruments worn by time.
For Daouda, a tire repairman for over ten years, modernizing equipment has become a necessity. "We work with very limited resources. If we had more modern machines, it would allow us to work faster and in better conditions. Today, almost everything is done by hand," he explains.
Abdoulaye Bah, who works in a suburban area of the city, shares the same observation. "When it's very hot, the tires also overheat and it's difficult to handle them. We get tired quickly. With better equipment, we could reduce the physical effort and better organize the work," he points out.
Faced with these difficulties, several tire repair shops are appealing to local authorities and development partners. They hope to receive support to modernize their workshops, through the provision of suitable equipment or training programs.
“We are not asking for much. Just support to improve our working conditions and develop our small businesses,” pleads Mamadou Diallo, a worker.
In a region where motorcycles and vehicles have become essential for getting around, tire repairers play a vital role in daily mobility. But during this period of Ramadan, marked by intense heat, their work also highlights the often difficult realities of working in the informal sector in Kédougou.
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