Bill bans child labor under 14 in all occupations, except for family work

This Bill amends the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, to completely ban the employment of children (under 14) in all occupations and processes, and to prohibit adolescents (ages 14-18) from working in hazardous occupations. The goal is to facilitate school enrollment for children and align regulations with international labor conventions.

Who it concerns: Employers, businesses, and institutions that engage children or adolescents in work; parents or guardians of children and adolescents; and government authorities responsible for enforcement and inspection.

What the bill does

• Prohibits employment of children (under 14) in all occupations and processes, with exceptions for helping family after school hours, in fields, home-based work, forest gathering, or technical institutions during vacations for learning (excluding outsourced subordinate labor).
• Prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes listed in the new Schedule (mines, inflammable substances/explosives, hazardous processes).
• Increases penalties for employing children in violation of the ban to imprisonment of 6 months to 2 years, or a fine of ₹20,000 to ₹50,000, or both.
• Introduces similar penalties for employing adolescents in hazardous occupations.
• Makes all offences under the Act cognizable (police can arrest without warrant).
• Empowers the District Magistrate to ensure compliance and specify subordinate officers for enforcement.
• Requires periodic inspections and monitoring of places where prohibited employment or hazardous processes occur.
• Removes Part III of the original Act, which regulated conditions of work for children, as children are now banned from all work.

Also in the document

• The Bill is an amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
• It explicitly references the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, in defining the age of a child.
• It aligns with ILO Convention 138 and Convention 182.
• Parents or guardians are not punished for child labor unless they permit it for commercial purposes.