Revamping the child labour laws in the country, the Union Cabinet approved a complete ban on the employment of children below 14 years, with exceptions for some family businesses, entertainment and sports activities.
It also raised the punishment for violations to up to three years in jail.
Making child labour a cognisable offence, the fine on employers has also been increased to up to Rs 50,000.
The children can be employed only in ‘non-hazardous‘ family enterprises, television serials, films, advertisements and sporting activities (except circus), with a condition that they will be made to do these jobs after school hours.
The fine on employers who use child labour has been increased to up to Rs 50,000
A new definition of ‚adolescent‘ has also been introduced to further prohibit employment of those aged between 14 and 18 years in hazardous jobs, a government statement said.
However, фильмы 2021 онлайн the amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act have relaxed the penal provisions for parents or guardians, who were earlier subjected to the same punishments applied to the employer of the child.
The amendment Bill, approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provides that there will be no punishment for parents or guardians for their 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 three months to a maximum of one year for the first offence, while the fine is Rs 10,000- Rs 20,000.
This has been enhanced to imprisonment of six months to two years and fine of Rs 20,000- Rs 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 the 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.
The new provisions are part of the official amendments to the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012.
On the exceptions made in the new laws proposed, the official statement said: „While considering a total prohibition on the employment of child, it would be prudent to also keep in mind the country’s social fabric and socioeconomic conditions adding that in a large number of families, children help their parents in their occupations like agriculture, artisanship, etc, and while helping the parents, children also learn the basics of occupations“.