New Delhi; Rajya Sabha has passed the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2012. The bill prohibits employment of children below 14 years in all occupations or processes except where the child helps his family, with the provision for imprisonment up to two years for any violation.

Replying to debate on the Bill, Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya hailed the development as a historic step and said, it is aimed at total abolition of child labour. He said, the Bill is aligned with the statutes of the International Labour Organisation, ILO convention.

He said, punishments for violations have been made stricter in the amended Bill. Explaining the Family Enterprises clause in the Bill, Mr Dattatreya said, in a family enterprise, there will be no employer-employee relationship and there are sufficient safeguards. Mr Dattatreya also informed that Government is taking the National Child Labour Project forward by spending more funds.

It also makes employment of children below 14 years as cognizable offence for employers and provides for penalty for parents. The Bill defines children between 14 to 18 years as adolescents and lays down that they should not be employed in any hazardous occupations and processes. The Bill also provides for enhanced punishment for violators.

The penalty for employing a child has been increased to imprisonment between 6 months and two years from the present 3 months to one year. The fine has been increased to minimum 20 thousand rupees to maximum 50 thousand rupees. The second time offence will attract imprisonment of one year to three years from the earlier 6 months and two years.

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.