Labour Ministry has proposed draft rules to fix the working conditions for child artistes and for employing children in family enterprises. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016, which put a blanket ban on employment of children below 14 years of age.

Proposed Amendments

• Child artiste will not be allowed to work for more than five hours a day for not more than three hours without rest
• Also child assisting in a family business can only work for three hours a day.
• The amendment to the Child Labour Rules, 1986 to become Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017.
• Children will be allowed to assist their family in running family enterprises without affecting their school education.
• The family would include parents, real siblings, and real brother and sister of the parents.
• Such children will not be allowed to engage in any production, supply or retail chain which is remunerative for the family and hazardous activities.
• At least 20% of the income earned by the child artiste will be required to be deposited in a fixed deposit account in a nationalised bank.
• The money would be credited to the child after she turns 18.
• The permission of the district magistrate would be mandatory for engaging a child artiste.
• The production unit must nominate a person, who would be held responsible for the safety and security of the child artiste.
• A child cannot take part in a street performance for monetary gain.

Aim of the Amendment

• Security of the Children.
• Education to be focused.

Source : The Hindu

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