Employers of Child Labour Warned of Stringent Action

Any employer who engages any child in violation of the act is liable for imprisonment for not less than 3 months which may be extended to one year.

HYDERABAD: Principal secretary (labour, employment, training and factories) RV Chandravadan has warned employers of child workers of stringent action.

In a statement here on Monday, he said that 367 cases had been registered against erring employers under Section 3 of Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) Act, 1986, and Section 20 of Minimum Wages Act, 1948 following the raids jointly conducted with the police department in the last three months in the areas of Talabkatta, Bhavani Nagar, Chandrayangutta, Kalapatthar, Laadbazaar, Hussaini Alam and Charminar in the old city.

There children were found employed in  bangle-making and school bags manufacturing units, goldsmith work, restaurants and automobile workshops. In most cases, children are made to work in inhuman conditions.

Notices have been issued to the employers to deposit an amount of Rs 20,000 as compensation as per the directions of the Supreme Court in the MC Mehta Vs State of Tamil Nadu case where the SC ordered payment of compensation of Rs 20,000 per child by the employer.

Employment of children is prohibited under the Shops and Establishments Act, 1988 and in hazardous occupations set forth in Part-A of the schedule or in any of processes set forth in Part-B of the schedule of Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. Any employer who engages any child in violation of the act is liable for imprisonment for not less than 3 months which may be extended to one year or fine not less than Rs 10,000 which may be extended to Rs 20,000 or both.