Indian Cabinet okays total ban on employment of children

August 29, 2012: India's Cabinet has approved a proposal to put a complete ban on employment of children up to the age of 14, both in hazardous and non-hazardous work by amending an anti-child labour Act.

The Union Cabinet, which met in New Delhi, approved bringing the amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which has also penal provisions for non compliance.

As per the provision of the proposed law, a person found guilty of giving employment to children would be liable to a maximum three years imprisonment or fine up to a maximum of 50,000 rupees. Officials said, Children between 14 to 18 years will also be defined as ‘adolescents’ in the amended Act.

The amendment will also fulfill the mandate of Right to Education for free and compulsory education for children in the age group of 6-15 years.