Child labour law OK’d

Dattatreya

Modi India’s parliament on Tuesday passed a new labour law that allows children to work for their families despite concerns by activists that it will hurt their development.

The Lok Sabha or the lower house approved a ban on all children under 14 from working, except if employed in family businesses or in the sports and entertainment industry.

The current law prohibits children under 14 from working only in hazardous jobs, although even this is not properly implemented, according to activists.

The government defended the decision to allow some forms of labour after school hours or during vacations, saying some children needed to learn traditional skills and that families needed a helping hand.

“The purpose of the bill is that we should be able to practically implement it. So we have given some exemptions,” junior labour and employment minister Bandaru Dattatreya told parliament.

UNICEF decried the new provision in the law, saying the legitimisation of family work would further disadvantage children from poorer families.

India’s Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said he was disappointed by the amended law.

Law also stiffens penalties for those employing children, doubling jail terms to two years and increasing fines to 50,000 rupees ($740) from 20,000 rupees ($300).

While child rights groups have welcomed such changes, there has been concern over other amendments proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. (Agencies)