Child Domestic Labour to be declared under dangerous jobs

COLOMBO (News 1st): The 'Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children Act' will be amended declaring another 20 jobs including the employment of children for domestic aide as dangerous jobs, the Department of Labour said. "In January 2021, the minimum age of recruitment of children was raised from 14-years to 16-years. Furthermore, the employment of children between the age group of 16 to 18-years in 51 types of dangerous jobs, was banned," Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the Commissioner-General of Labour told News 1st on Tuesday (Jul. 27). According to Prabath Chandrakeerthi, in addition to these 51 dangerous jobs, another list of 20 jobs that includes the employment of children for domestic aide was forwarded to the Legal Draftsman's Department to be amended as dangerous jobs, with the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. Among others, this new list of 20 dangerous jobs includes the employment of children as domestic aides, employment of children for performances endangering life and other related acts, employment of children in the weapons industry, and the employment of children to serve alcohol at restaurants. "Once the respective amendments are made to the Employment of Women, Young Persons, and Children Act, the employment of children under the age of 18-years for domestic aide will be made absolutely illegal," the Commissioner-General of Labour emphasized. According to the Department of Labour, at present, the fine for employing children in such risky jobs is set at Rs. 1000 or one-year imprisonment or both; moreover, a magistrate can order that a compensation of Rs. 100,000 be paid to the victims.