Step 1: Overview:
The Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act of 1986 was updated in 2016. The revised law, now called the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, takes a stricter, more comprehensive stance on child labor.
Step 2: Key Points:
Here's a breakdown of the amended Act:
(A) Total Ban: Children under 14 are not allowed to work in any job or process. Adolescents (14-18 years old) also can't work in dangerous jobs. Therefore, the prohibition is a key element, but not the only one.
(B) Support for Education and Recovery: This is the key difference of the current law. The amended Act connects the ban on child labor with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009. It also sets up a Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund. The goal is to remove children from work and provide them with an education to help them recover.
(C) Phased Approach (Old Law): The older law only banned child labor in some industries and regulated it in others. The new law has moved towards a complete ban.
(D) Penalties and Rehabilitation: The Act focuses on punishing employers and helping children recover, not on providing direct financial compensation as the main strategy.
Step 3: Conclusion:
The current law's unique approach is the strong connection between banning child labor and providing support for education and rehabilitation, protecting the child's right to education.