We from National Domestic Workers Movement share the concerns of many child right organizations in objecting to the cabinet approval to amend the Child Labour Act-1986 to allow children below 14 to work in non-hazardous family enterprises after the school hours and during vacation time. While appreciating the attempts of the government to ban child labour in the hazardous industries completely, making a provision in Section-3 of Child Labour Act-1986 to allow children below 14 years old to work in home based business will create a loophole to promote child labour. This move by the Government will enhance economic exploitation of children and deny the children’s constitutional right to a sound and healthy childhood.

 The past years have seen a sharp decline in the numbers of child laborers and an increase in enrolment in schools due to quality interventions of many groups. Relaxing the existing law to allow children to work after school hours will increase the number of child labourers, be harmful to the children’s health, deprive the children of adequate time to revise their studies and their right to rest and recreation, which will affect their physical and mental growth. The amendment will hinder the efforts of the country to eradicate poverty and push India backward. 

We appeal to you for positive action not to go ahead with the amendment in the better interest of children, who are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.

Our goal is to collect 25,000 signatures, to present this petition to the Prime Minister.