Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatraya said that the Central Government was mulling over making it mandatory for employers to register every employee with the labour department.
Dattatraya said that the government was totally committed to eliminate child labour. However, a fool proof Act is required for the purpose, he added.
He was speaking at the Consultation meet held jointly by Network for International Legal Activists to review the Child Labour (prohibition and regulation) bill 2012 at Administrative Staff College of India here on Tuesday. The meeting was aimed at discussing the further amendments needed to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) bill 2012 and submit a report to the Union Ministry of Labour. In his speech, Dattatraya said that there were some flaws in the Bill which need to be rectified. However, issues like children helping their family after schools should be considered. There is a need for debate and discussion on the same.
The Union Minister said that the laws in the Amendment Bill were in conformity with the International Labour organsiation with stricter punishments, but livelihood is important. For the first time, a child rehabilitation fund has been created. He said that National Child Labour Project budget was Rs.110 crores and previously, his ministry enhanced the same to Rs.280 crores. Expressing concern over the increasing number of child labour he said that migration of child labour is one of the major issues and Hyderabad has become a child labour hub. He also said that his ministry would fully cooperate for amendments to the Bill.
Telangana Home and Labour Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, in his address, called upon the need to sensitize people on the importance of education for their children. He said that the State Government was committed not only to eradicate child labour, but also to work towards education. Telangana is providing free education from K.G. to P.G. He also expressed concern over the invisible form of child labour and said that the Bill has no mention about migration of labour.
Dr. Mamatha Raghuveer, Dr. T. Vasantha Lakshmi Ravi Kumar, founders of NILA also spoke on the occasion. Harpreeth Singh, Secretary Labour, Dr.Rahul Buja, Collector Hyderabad were also present in the meeting. (INN)