(a) whether it is a fact that the International Labour
Organisation (ILO) has criticised India for trying to hide the
truth about the country`s child labourers mostly engaged in
hazardous occupation; and
(b) if so, the details thereof and reaction of the Government
thereto?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT ( SHRI MUNI LALL )
(a) & (b) : The Committee on Application of Standards of the
International Labour Conference in June, 2000 noted Government of
India`s commitment to elimination of child labour and in
particular, forced child labour. It urged the Government to step
up its activities. It called upon the Government to provide
legal protection, in particular to children working in the
unorganised sectors, i.e., in small scale units not covered by
the Factories Act,1948. Child Labour is a major social and
economic problem in India and the Government is taking a number
of measures to withdraw the children from the place of work and
to rehabilitate them. The progress in this direction is
continuously reported to the ILO.