The Hidden Face of Child Labour

The useful part

Unfortunately, child labour remains one of the less visible social concerns in our society, particularly when it occurs within private households. While children working in commercial spaces are easily noticed but children employed as domestic workers or household helpers often remain outside public scrutiny which is a cause of concern. Since their workplace is a private residence, their working conditions are rarely documented or reported.

How it works

• In practice, however, the child may become responsible for cleaning, washing utensils, cooking, caring for younger children and performing other domestic duties for extended periods.
• The issue of domestic work is significant because the Schedule to the Act...
• Education is discontinued and the child is in real meaning effectively treated as an employee.
• The law governing the subject is Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, as amended in 2016.
• The amended law distinguishes between a "child", meaning a person who has not completed 14 years of age, and an "adolescent", meaning a person who has completed 14 years but has not completed 18 years.

What to take from it

The law generally prohibits the employment of children below 14 years, subject to limited exceptions expressly provided in the Act and for adolescents, employment is prohibited in occupations and processes classified as hazardous.

Details worth keeping

Thus the arrangement raises serious legal and child-protection concerns.