Children can now be employed in non-hazardous familyenterprises, TV serials, films, advertisements and sporting
activities (except circus) with a condition that they would be made to do these jobs after school hours
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA
New Delhi, May 13: In a major overhaul of child labour laws, the Union Cabinet Wednesday approved a near-complete ban on employment of children below 14 years, except for some family businesses, entertainment and sports activities, while raising the punishment for violations to up to three years of jail.
Making child labour a cognizable offence, the fine has also been raised to as high as Rs 50,000 for employers.
Children can now be employed only in non-hazardous family enterprises, TV serials, films, advertisements and sporting
activities (except circus) with a condition that they would be made to do these jobs after school hours.
A new definition of adolescent has also been introduced to further prohibit employment of those aged 14-18 years in
hazardous jobs, a government statement said. The amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act has, however, relaxed the penal provisions for parents or guardians, who were earlier subjected to same punishments as applicable to the employer of the child.
The amendment bill, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provides that there would be
no punishment for parents or guardians in case of first offence, while a maximum penalty of Rs 10,000 can be levied in
case of the second and subsequent offences.
Under the existing law, any violation attracts imprisonment of a minimum 3 months to a maximum of one year for the first offence, while the fine is Rs 10,000-20,000. This has been enhanced to imprisonment of 6 months to two years and fine of Rs 20,000-50,000 for the first offence. For the second offence, the jail provision has been increased from 6-24 months to 12-36 months.
The current law prohibits employment of children, aged below 14 years, only in 18 specified occupations and 65
processes and regulates the conditions of working of children in other occupations/processes. The new bill provides that employment of children below 14 years will be prohibited in all occupations and processes. Besides, the age of prohibition of employment will be linked to age under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
The new provisions are part of the official amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Bill,
2012.