Theme: Child Labour

When child artists are being employed for work, there is an obligation on the employer to fill out Form C as given in the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. The employer by filling the Form C, has to promise to take responsibility in the following manner:

• Child’s education should not be affected.
• Child artists who are hired should be protected, given care and protection and full care of their physical and mental health should be looked into.
• The employer should not violate the legal provisions of the child labour law.
• The employer should take care of the child’s well being so that no sexual offences are committed.

Application for Permission

The District Magistrate (in the district where the activity is taking places) should give you an undertaking allowing the child to work. The parents or the guardian should also give approval for the work being done by the child. The undertaking will state and ensure:

• Facilities for the physical and mental health of the child.
• A nutritional diet of the child.
• Clean and safe shelter for the child.
• Compliance with all laws for the protection of children, right to education and protection against sexual offences.

Working Hours

The employer has to take note of the following points:

• A child cannot be allowed to work for more than five hours in a day.
• A child cannot be made to work for more than three hours without rest.
• A child should not be made to work consecutively for more than 27 days.

The school has a role in preventing child labour.

The right to education of a child applies even if the child or adolescent is working as an artist or in the family business.

When the child is working in the family business and if the child hasn’t been coming to school for a consecutive period of 30 days, the Principal or Headmaster of the school, has to report the absence of any child, to the Inspector.

Further, if the members of the school are aware that the child or adolescent is engaged in any illegal work then they are required to report it.

The Government appoints Inspectors to make sure that there is no illegal employment and the permitted employment of adolescents is done as per the law. An inspector or police officer has a duty to:

• Conduct periodical inspections of the places where employment of children is prohibited.
• Carry out rounds of inspection at industries where children are employed and where adolescents are employed.
• To check the working conditions of children in family enterprises.
• Accept complaints and report illegal acts of child labour to the Court.
• Determine age of a child, if there is a doubt that the child is below the age of 14 years.
• Inspect the Register maintained by the employer at the establishment which would have details such as:
  • Name and date of birth of the child employed along with relevant documents as to the date of birth.
  • Hours and periods of work(including the hours of rest).
  • Nature of the work that the child is doing.

All the inspectors have to make sure that if a child is being employed illegally, then the concerned employer has to pay Rs. 20000 as a fine into a fund known as the Child Labour Rehabilitation-cum-Welfare Fund, which the child can reclaim later.

The following are the responsibilities of the employer when it comes to employing child artists:

Education

You should make sure that the child is given proper education while doing his or her work as an artist. The Act specifically states that all measures must be taken so that the child does not discontinue going to school.

Income

You should make sure that 20% of the income that has been earned by the child as an artist, should be deposited in a fixed account in a nationalized bank and once the child becomes 18 years of age, he or she can reclaim the money.

Consent

The most important criteria is that if a child is uncomfortable and does not want to participate in an activity or sport, the child should not be forced into the action against his or her will and consent.

Children can work in movies/TV/sports and be paid for it. These children are known as child artists. There is a list of allowed entertainment and sporting activities for children with respect to movies, TV and sports, such as:

• Movies
• TV shows/Reality shows/Quiz shows/Talent shows
• Sports Activities such as competitions, events or training
• Advertisements
• Cinema and documentary shows
• Radio
• Participation as an anchor of a show or events.

Some artistic performances that are not mentioned above can still be allowed by the Central government.

The law specifically bans children from:

• Performing in a circus; and
• Performing on the street for money.

The Central Government has duties to ensure that child labour does not take place and that the provisions of the law are followed. To do this the Government has to:

• Run public awareness campaigns
• Use media to spread awareness
• Promote reporting of child labour
• Publicly display the law on child labour
• Include child Labour law in the syllabus of schools
• Promote training of police, judicial service academies, teachers, Central Labour Service about the child labour law and their role.