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Cabinet clears changes to Child Labour Act, those under 14 can work in family businesses
Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times, New Delhi| Updated: May 13, 2015 20:59 IST

The Union Cabinet cleared amendments to the child labour law on Wednesday to allow children below the age of 14 to work in select 'non-hazardous' family enterprises.

The government earlier said it was planning to take the step to encourage learning at home as it led to entrepreneurship. It, however, said the children would be allowed to work only if their education wasn't being hampered.

According to a report published by Hindustan Times on April 8, a draft provision in the Child Labour Prohibition Act said the prohibition on child labour would not apply if they were helping the family in fields, forests and home-based work after school hours or during vacations, or while attending technical institutions.

The new norm would also apply to the entertainment industry and sports except the circus, a proposal by the labour ministry said. In addition, children between 14 and 18 years would not be allowed to work in hazardous industries.

"We don't want to redraw the social fabric of Indian society where children learn by participating in work with family elders. We, instead, want to encourage learning WORK AT HOME as it leads to entrepreneurship," a government official said.

The changes in the labour law also provide for stricter punishment for employers for violation. While there is no penalty provision for parents for the first offence, the employer would be liable for punishment even for the first violation.

In case of parents, the repeat offenders may be penalised with a monetary fine up to Rs 10,000. In case of first offence, the penalty for employers has been increased up to two and half times from the existing up to Rs 20 thousand to up to Rs 50,000 now.