Child labour ban coming soon: Union Labour Minister

This Consultation was also an extension of the earlier consultations at state level in West Bengal and Delhi that have highlighted the need for national level deliberations for better understanding and greater convergence among relevant stakeholders at the state and national level.

 

Union Minister for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya delivered the key note address. He said, “if a child is put into work, then they get used to working and then it becomes very difficult to put them into school. That is why child labour is a very serious challenge.  Totally 8.2 million children are employed as child labourers. We want to emulate the Prime Minister’s motto of Save Girl Child, Educate Girl Child with respect to child labour also.  We are committed to pass the amended Child labour in Parliament."

 

"The purpose of the Bill is complete ban on child labour till the age of 14. Those who will violate this will be punishable up to a fine of Rs 60,000 and jail for two years. Parents will also be liable for action on second offense. They can be fined up to Rs 5,000 and jail for 6 months. We will also be launching a massive skill development programme to train our children so that they can become productive and proud citizens," said he.

 

Asheem Srivastava, Member Secretary, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights was also present at the consultation, he urged the audience to, “please appreciate the fact that these poor children have the same competence but people like you and me, we prefer domesticating them for as low as Rs 1500 a month.”

 

The issue of exploitation of children domestic workers is frequent and regularly reported. With no rights and rules to fall back on, most of the domestic helps have become contemporary slaves.

 

According to statistics from the International Labour Organization there are approximately 12.6 million child laborers in India (2001 Census) of which approximately 20% to 40% work as domestic helpers or in hospitality. 

 

NGOs estimate that there could be as many as 100 million child labourers and 74% of child domestic workers in India are between the ages of 12 and 16. Compared to the last census report, the figure has come down in the recent census (2011) which shows that there are 43.5 lakh child labours in India in the age group of 5-14 years. 

 

Although the official data shows a decline rate of 65 % working children, the fact remains contrary and the issue of child labour still remains a matter of grave concern and needs urgent attention.

 

The list of exploitation is endless and frequently reported upon by the media. Legislations such the Prohibition of child labour in domestic work under Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 which bans the employment of children under the age of 14 years as domestic servants or servants in dhabas (roadside eateries), restaurants, hotels, motels, teashops, resorts, spas or in other recreational centres cannot be implemented in the absence of any implementation mechanism in this Act. Children working as domestic helps at homes are often invisible and are out of any policy for their welfare by the government.

 

Child domestic workers are subject to a bewildering array of violent treatment. Research has indicated that girls tend to suffer more from emotional bullying and boys more from physical violence. 

 

In a 2006 study of five hundred child domestic workers in West Bengal by Save the Children, it was found that 68 per cent had faced physical abuse, with almost half suffering severe abuse that had led to injuries. Eighty-six per cent had experienced emotional abuse. The study also found that nearly a third of families had no idea where their daughters were working. A further 27 per cent admitted they knew their children were being beaten and harassed.

 

Speaking at the consultation Shireen Vakil Miller, Director, Advocacy and Policy, Save the Children said, “fundamentally, a significant shift in societal attitudes (especially those of parents and employers) is needed if progress is to be made in protecting children from exploitation.”