HELPING shoeshine boys earn a decent income through the shoeshine trade is something the Fiji Police Force is looking into.

The Fiji Police Force, the Australian High Commission social club and the Rescue Mission Community Association have conducted a special workshop for shoeshine boys to teach them the basics of earning a proper income through shoeshining.

Rescue Mission Community Association director Reverend Jekope Serukalou said the objective of the workshop was to establish shoeshining as a legitimate trade.

Mr Serukalou said the association, the police and with sponsorship from the Australian High Commission social club hoped to get the shoeshine boys to develop and manage their own business.

“The Australian High Commission’s Social Club has given $2100 to help start the initiative,” Mr Serukalou said.

“The funds have been used to buy two shoeshine chairs, where customers can sit when getting their shoes shined by the boys.”

He said the association was looking at increasing their service charge since the customers were being provided with proper service from the shoeshine boys.

“A lot of people take the shoeshine trade lightly but for some of these boys it is a main source of income and it puts food on the table,” he said.

He said five shoeshine boys were part of the workshop and they continued to provide such up-skill training around the country.