Amid objections by MPs cutting across political lines on certain clauses, the Parliament on Tuesday passed the amendments to the Bill introducing stringent provisions on prevention of child labour. 'The Child labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill' makes employment of children below 14 years as cognizable offence for employers and provides for penalty for parents.
Employing a child below 14 years of age in any occupation or processes except where the child helps his family will now invite a imprisonment of up to two years. The Bill, which was passed by lok Sabha on Tuesday, defines children between 14-18 years as adolescents and lays down that they should not be employed in any hazardous occupations and processes. This bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on July 19.
It provides for enhanced punishment for violators. The penalty for employing a child has been increased to imprisonment between 6 months and two years (from 3 months to one year) or a fine of `20,000 to `50,000 (from `10,000-20,000) or both. The second time offence will attract imprisonment of one year to three years from the earlier 6 months and two years.
Participating in the debate several MPs cutting across party line said the bill was poorly drafted as it lacks clear provisions on penalty and certain definitions on family run business. At one point BJP MP Varun Gandhi said some proposed changes in the bill as "lunacy".
His main contention was there were no provisions of punishment for first offenders and no clear distinction to identify repeated offenders "It's not leniency, but lunacy", he said while referring to certain provisions relating to punishment for violation of the child labour laws.
According to provisions of the Bill, no child should be employed in any occupation or process except where he or she helps his family after school hours or helps his family in fields, home based work, forest gathering or attends technical institutions during vacations for the purpose of learning.
labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the bill is a "historic" and "landmark" legislation which seeks to totally prohibit children below 14 years to indulge in all occupation and processes except where the child helps his family after school hours.