The Indian Child Labour Law
Ever since the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act was enacted in 1986, Bachpan Bachao Andolan under the aegis of Mr. Kailash Satyarthi has been actively demanding for substantive amendments in the same. Of late in May 2012, Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Global March Against Child Labour had convened a National Consultation on Child Labour Free India, where the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, Shri. Mallikarjun Kharge announced about forthcoming amendments in the child labour law. Mr. Satyarthi had demanded the following: 1. All forms of employment should be prohibited for children up to the age of completion of education in accordance to the Right to Education Act; 2. Employment of children up to 18 years of age in any hazardous occupation or processes or any economic activity which is dangerous for children must be prohibited in conformity with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000; 3. Child Labour should be made cognizable and non-bailable offense under law and punitive actions against offenders should be made more stringent and time-bound; 4. An effective national programme with sufficient resource allocation for comprehensive rehabilitation of child labourers and also for clear monitoring and accountability framework must be in place; and 5. India should reiterate its new role as a leader in global economy by immediately ratifying ILO Conventions No. 182 on the worst forms of child labour and the No. 138 on the minimum age of employment at the earliest.
In a recent move on 28 August 2012, the Union Cabinet approved the amendments in the child labour law accedding to 4 of the 5 demands made by Mr. Kailash Satyarthi. This approval has paved way for the Government of India to ratify ILO Conventions, 138 on minimum age of employment and 182 on worst forms of child labour.
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