CLPRA
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act
An act to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments.
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, originally passed in 1986 and significantly amended in 2016, strictly prohibits the employment of children below the age of 14 years in all occupations and processes. It also prohibits the employment of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous occupations.
The law makes child labour a cognizable offense and seeks to align domestic legislation with international standards, ensuring children remain in school rather than the workforce.
KOSHISH actively campaigns against child labour in Jammu & Kashmir by raising community awareness, conducting rescue and rehabilitation operations in coordination with the Labour Department, and ensuring that rescued children are enrolled in schools and provided with necessary psychosocial support.
Key provisions
- Complete ban on employment of children below 14 years
- Prohibition of adolescents (14-18 years) in hazardous work
- Increased penalties for violators and employers
- Establishment of the Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund
- Cognizable offenses with strict enforcement mechanisms