7,000 employers hiring child labour prosecuted in 2014-16

NEW DELHI: About 7,000 employers were prosecuted between 2014 and 2016 for hiring child labourers and of them, 2200 were convicted, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Out of the 6,920 prosecutions, the maximum of 966 were in Punjab. The state also saw a maximum of 731 convictions under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.

The law provides for complete prohibition on employment of children below 14 years of age in any occupation. It also prohibits employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations.

Responding to supplementaries, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the government is following a multi-pronged strategy for elimination of child labour including legislative measures, rehabilitation and provision of elementary education.