Child rights activists have lashed out at the bill amending the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, which allows children below the age of 14 to work in family businesses and the entertainment industry.
According to a release from the Campaign Against Child Labour, the Cabinet decision to allow child labour below the age of 14 years in family businesses and entertainment industry is a regressive move. “Through this amendment, the Labour Ministry and the Cabinet have completely negated the voice of child rights activists and the recommendations of the Parliament Standing Committee on Labour,” Joseph Victor Raj, national convenor of the CACL said.
Rather than enforcing the complete ban on child labour up to 14 years through the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2012, the government intends to continue the existing inequality in school education, the release said.
