Child Labor Bill Passed In National Assembly
Child Labor Bill Passed In National Assembly: Child Labor bill titled “The Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2017” was tabled by MNA Shazia Marri.
According to the proposed law
- the Constitution guarantees the protection of children and requires that provisions be made to ensure a just and humane environment for children at work
- to ensure children are not employed in vocations/jobs not suited to their age.
- A person who employs a child shall be punishable with an imprisonment term which may extend to 6 months and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000 or both.
- If a child is employed in any hazardous work, the fine may extend to Rs.100, 000 but not less than Rs.10, 000 and imprisonment which may extend to 3 years.
- The proposed law says that if a child or adolescent is employed in any form of slavery such as the sale and trafficking of children or forced labor, or are used in child prostitution or pornography, or for the production and trafficking of drugs, the fine may be extended to Rs.1 million and not less than Rs.200,000 and the imprisonment term can be extended up to 10 years and not less than 5 years.
38 Hazardous Occupations For Children Identified In The Bill
The bill has categorized 38 occupations as hazardous including
- transport of passengers and goods,
- working in underground mines,
- sandblasting,
- exposure to cement dust
- and working at a height of two meters and above.
The bill also says that children should not work in tobacco processing and manufacturing or at cinemas, mini cinemas and cyber cafes.
Other Bills That Got Passed In National Assembly
- The house passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018, aimed at ensuring rights of transgender persons. The bill suggested to the government to establish a safe house for transgender persons and provide them medical and educational facilities and psychological counseling.
- Acid and Burn Crime Bill, 2017, proposed by MNA Marvi Memon got passed suggesting free medical treatment, rehabilitation for acid burn victims and a process for conducting trial of the accused in the shortest possible time.
- Pakistan Citizenship (amendment) Act, 2018 suggests Pakistani citizenship for the persons (Bangladeshis and Biharis), who have been living in the country for 70 years but could not get citizenship.
- The house passed a bill seeking amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, under which a maximum of Rs500,000 fine can be imposed to the violators.
- Other bills passed in National Assembly were
- protection of witnesses in criminal cases,
- establishment of an institute of science and technology in Bahawalpur,
- setting up of rehabilitation centres for disabled children through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal and forced disappearances.
Following Issues Discussed
- The National Assembly discussed the issues of load-shedding in Sindh
- a recent clash in Karachi between workers of the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf,
- proposed merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,
- Facilities given to suspended police officer Rao Anwar, who is facing a case of extrajudicial killing.
Bill For Senate Approval
The child labor bill will now be sent to Senate from where it will have to be passed in 90 days to become law.
In case amendments are made in Senate, it will be sent back to the lower house for voting.
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