THE Sandakan market is popular for its cheap and fresh seafood.

But there is another interesting feature there that is well-known among frequent market-goers – the wheelbarrow boys who help shoppers carry purchased items.

There are some 140 wheelbarrow boys, many of them school dropouts, who earn a daily living at the market.

“I start work as early as 5am and end around noon,” said 14-year-old Omar Sayadi, who started doing the job several months ago to support his family after his father fell ill.

“My father used to work as a supervisor in a plantation, but I have taken over his role as the breadwinner since he became sick.”

Omar does not have a fixed rate; his earnings depend on the generosity of his customers.

Still, the teenager said he could earn between RM30 and RM50 a day, which he readily hands over to his father for daily expenses.

For Conan Abdullah, 18, the desire to buy new clothes, help his family and start his own business motivates him to work at the market.

“I have never been to school, this is the only job that I can do,” he said, adding that he has been working as a wheelbarrow boy for about three years.

Conan, who aspires to be a successful vegetable seller, works from 6am to 3pm.