(a)whether a large number of people employing Child labour are let off in absence of provision to punish the guilty in the existing laws to prevent child labour in the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c)the details of the existing provisions to punish the people found employing child labour;and
(d)the details of action taken against those found involved in employing child labour during the last two years, State/UT-wise?
MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)
(a) to (c): Government has amended the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986 and enacted the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 which came into force w.e.f. 1.9.2016. The amended Act inter-alia provides for complete prohibition on employment or work of children below 14 years of age in any occupation or process and prohibition of employment or work of adolescents (14-18 years) in the scheduled occupations and processes. The punishment for violation of provisions of the Act has been made stricter and the offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act by an employer has been made cognizable. The existing penalty provisions against violation of the Act are as under:
Contd..2/-
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(i) In case of first offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, penalty would be imprisonment for a term not less than six months but which may extend to two years or with fine not less than Rs.20,000/, but which may extend to Rs.50,000/- or with both.
(ii) In case of a second or subsequent offence of employing any child or adolescent in contravention of the Act, the minimum imprisonment would be one year which may extend to three years.
(d): As per the information received from the States, the details of action taken against employers under Child Labour Act during the last two years, State/UT-wise are given at Annexure.
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