Díli (Taibesi) – Selling is a simple economic activity but plays a very important role in sustaining family life, many people in Timor-Leste choose this activity to earn a daily income to meet basic needs such as food, drink and pay for their children’s school fees.
Meat trader Antonio da Silva,age 60, from Aileu Municipality, continues to do this handicraft to support his family despite his low income.
Antonio has eight children, most of whom have formed a household but have two (2) children who will continue their education at secondary level and another child in pre-secondary.
“This business is not my own, but I just sell people’s and then I get a little from it,” said Antonio to Média Mudansa journalist in Taibesi market.
Business activity that Antonio started from 2011 until now, from this business every day he gets not much because it will be shared with the owner of the goods and his few percent of the price he gets.
“The boss gives me $ 300 or $ 500 to buy meat after that I sell and get between $ 10 to $ 15 per kilogram (50kg) of meat if the meat is sold out,” he said.
Despite receiving a small commission, Antonio continued to struggle with this as his main activity. For his child’s main education for tomorrow’s future
In the future, Antonio said that depending on the capital he receives, whether with a good income, he will do another business.
“If I sell goods at good prices or have money, I can do other businesses from selling meat, but if not, I will continue like this,” he stressed.
He also declared the difficulties that they sell meat in the market Taibesi face such as meat sold not finished because many people sell and other situations must have a refrigerator to prevent meat from spoiling.
“Although we sell meat does not spoil because we have a refrigerator, but if not sold all in one day, it is difficult to get regular commission this week,” he concluded
Journalist/Intern : Madalena da Silva
Editor :Manuel Andrade
