Child labour norms eased, but activists take it with pinch of salt
Aparna Banerji
Jalandhar, May 15
While the Centre prohibited all child labour below 14 years of age except children helping families or working in family-based enterprises after school hours or during holidays and for children employed in the entertainment industry and sports barring circus, many city based activists said the move would only make things more difficult as those employing children now might masquerade as family members (a practice prevalent formerly as well).
Dinesh Kumar, activist, Bachpan Bachao Andolan says, "We have rescued some children working as domestic helps in the district. Employers and agents masquerade as their parents and the work goes on. That act has come as a big blow for a huge chunk of children. The entire domestic help and sports industry is thriving on kids. Domestic helps are masqueraded as adopted kids and sports children are made to sew foot balls from home. Now it will be difficult to justify their freedom and protection."
"Also, most of the children working in embroidery units undergo extreme exploitation and in many cases owners call them their own children. But they are made to work long hours which has adverse affect on their heads, eyes and backs. The government's move shall embolden all units hiring such children and masquerading as family enterprises," he said.
"While we would've though better social or economic security for children would be the agenda of the central government, unfortunately Acche Din for children seems to be legalisation of certain labour for impoverished children," Dinesh added.
Activist Anoop Vats, said, "There is no harm in the amendment if it does exactly what it says. If children's own parents and family enterprises are non-exploitative, then in a way they even end up providing livelihood to impoverished families. But like with every law, these amendments are seldom followed in letter and spirit. What ends up happening is that children are made to do hazardous work or work long hours and at the end of it, employers call such units family enterprises. So with the current move, similar apprehensions are being felt and expressed. While rampant child labour and some families' extreme dependence on it, is India's harsh reality, the problem arrives when these labourers rather than being given their livelihood or economic support are exploited, beaten denied wages or harassed in other ways. The government needs to take that aspect into consideration. A child under 14 years of age is also otherwise not is position to fight such exploitation alone."
Inderjit Singh, Project Director national Child Labour Project, however, expressed positivity at the government's move. "Sections were already in existence which said parents employment of children by their own parents wasn't child labour. The ne amendment continues to prohibit child labour in hazardous occupations. Child labour by children below 14 years of age in 16 hazardous occupations and 65 hazardous procedures remains a punishable offence. The centre has only enhanced the Act slightly and some people are misinterpreting it or making too much
out of it."
