Limpiabotas años 40

The profession is very common in many countries today. The wages earned as a shoe shine is very variable but is a significant proportion of the family income, especially if the parent has died or is unable to work. In Afghanistan many children work as shoe-shine boys in their spare time and possibly earn a few 100 afganís ( £1 approx.) daily. Many of the street children based their livelihood on to serve as footman as a sole means of income, or in the worst cases, cleaning, or washing windshields in the streets between vehicles on the road.

In some cities, services a shoeshine are required, obtaining a license to work legally. In August 2007, the shiners Mumbai in India were removed from the railway stations due to "financial irregularities". Each association of shoe was required in the renewal of your license, which worried many people, losing it to a rival.