Child and Adolescent Labour Act, 1986 Quiz

Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986

• Purpose: Prohibits child labor in all occupations and adolescent labor in hazardous occupations, regulating adolescent working conditions aligning with ILO conventions.
• Scope: Nation-wide in India.
• Child Definition: Under 14 years old, or the age specified in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, whichever is higher.
• Adolescent Definition: 14 years or older, but younger than 18 years.
• Appropriate Government: Central government for controlled establishments (e.g., railways, mines), State government for others
• Establishment: Includes shops, workshops, farms, hotels, restaurants, theatres, etc.
• Occupier: Person with ultimate control over an establishment.
• Workshop: Premises with industrial processes (excludes those under Section 67 of the Factories Act, 1948).
• Definition of Family and Family Enterprise: Family includes family members; family enterprise is work performed by family members without external workers.
• Artist Exception: Children can work as artists in entertainment (excluding circuses) under prescribed conditions and safety measures, avoiding school disruption.
• Prohibition of Child Labor (Section 3): General ban on child labor in any occupation or process.
• Exceptions to Child Labor Prohibition: Helping family or family enterprise (excluding hazardous jobs) after school / during vacations, and working as an artist.
• Prohibition of Adolescent Labor in Hazardous Occupations (Section 3A): Ban on work in hazardous jobs (defined in the schedule), including mines, hazardous processes, use of inflammable substances and explosives.
• Hazardous Occupations and Processes (Schedule): List of jobs deemed hazardous.
• Central Government Authority: Ability of the Central Government to specify non-hazardous work for adolescents.
• Work Hours (Section 7): Limits adolescent workday, not exceeding three hours at a time without a minimum one-hour break.
• **Daily Working Hours (Section 7):**Maximum daily work is six hours, including waiting time.
• Prohibited Work Times: No work between 7 PM and 8 AM. No overtime allowed. No work in more than one establishment on same day.
• Weekly Holidays (Section 8): One day off per week, with advance notice by employer, (cannot be changed more than once every three months.)
• Notice to Inspector (Section 9): Occupational employers must notify the inspector within 30 days of an adolescent's employment.
• Register Maintenance (Section 10): Establishment maintenance of register detail of adolescent employees, including name, date of birth, work hours, work details, and other required details. The register must be available for inspection.
• Notice Display (Section 14): Display of notice (in local language and English) containing an abstract of sections 3A and 14 in conspicuous places in railway administrations, ports, and other applicable places.

Penalties

• Child Labor Violations (Section 3): Imprisonment (6 months to 2 years) or fine (₹20,000 to ₹50,000) or both for employers. Parents/guardians exempt unless allowing commercial work.
• Adolescent Labor Violations (Section 3A): Imprisonment (6 months to 2 years) or fine (₹20,000 to ₹50,000) or both for employers. Parents/guardians exempt unless allowing hazardous work. No punishment for parents or guardians for the first offence.
• Repeat Offences: Imprisonment (1 year to 3 years) for repeated violations (by employers), and a fine of up to ₹10,000 for repeated violations (by parents or guardians).
• Other Violations: Simple imprisonment (up to 1 month), or a fine up to ₹10,000

District Magistrate Enforcement

• Authority: The appropriate government can assign duties to the District Magistrate for Act enforcement.
• Delegation: The District Magistrate can delegate powers to subordinate officers with defined limits.

Test your knowledge on the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986. This quiz covers the definitions, purposes, and scope of the legislation aimed at regulating child and adolescent labor in India. Explore the rights and responsibilities under this important law.