Since the adoption of a National Child Labour Policy in 1987, the Government of India has spearheaded a major child

labour elimination programme through its flagship National Child Labour Projects (NCLP). Thus far, 150 NCLPs have
been launched across the country to provide educational and other rehabilitation services to children withdrawn from
hazardous industries. The programme is supplemented by a budgetary allocation by the Government of Rs6,020
million (about US$131 million) during the Tenth Five-Year Plan 2002-07 to cover 250 districts out of a total of 601
districts during the plan period. The national programme is complemented by efforts aiming at universal elementary
education, whilst several major states (provincial governments) are implementing time-bound programmes for the
elimination of child labour. India has been participating in IPEC since 1992 and, building on the experience, a
comprehensive and large-scale project on child labour INDUS is now being implemented by the federal and state
governments, with support from IPEC in 20 districts of four large states. The project is co-fi nanced by the
Government of India and the United States Department of Labor. It aims to develop an integrated multi-sectoral
approach through several components dealing with education, training and income generation for poor families. The
project
has
a
strong
partnership
approach,
involving
the
social
partners
in
particular.
CHILD
Special

LABOUR

IN
INDIA
Reference-Construction

Report
Industry

Definition
According to the 'National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development' Child Labour is economically
unsound, psychologically disastrous and physically as well as morally dangerous and harmful. It involves the use of
labour at its points of lowest productivity and is there, an inefficient utilisation of labour power. Child labour precludes
the full unfoldment of a child's potentialities. It deprives him/her of education, training and skills which are the
necessary prerequisites of earning power and economic development. A working child is denied the opportunity to
educate
himself.
Indian
Constitution
Say
According to Article 24 of the Indian constitution, "No Child below the age of 14 (fourteen) years shall be employed to
work
in
any
factory
or
mine
or
engaged
in
any
other
hazardous
employment."
Indian
Labour
Laws
&
Child
Labour
1881

Factory
Act

below
7
years
of
age
not
allowed
to
work.
1933
Factory
Act

amended
minimum
age
for
work
raised
to
15
yrs.
1948
Factory
Act

amended
again
minimum
age
for
work
reduced
to
14
yrs.
1950 'Central Minimum Wage Rule' recommended for 4 hours duty in a day for child labour. 1986 'Child Labour
(Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 mentioned minimum working hours for a child in a day will be 6 hours
(section
7[3])
with
an
interval
of
1
hour
after
continuous
work
for
3
hours.
Law
(1)
(2)

Rs.
One

breakers
10,000/month

punishment
to

Rs.
to

20,000/12

fine
month

(Section-14)
and
jail.

There is total bann on Child Labour engagement in Building & Construction Industry as per Section 3 of 'Child Labour
(Prohibition
and
Regulation)
Act
1986'
and
Section 12 of 'Building and Other Construction Workers' (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act
1996.
There are some other Labour Laws which deal about child labour besides the Acts mentioned above

1)
2)
3)
4)

Beedi

and
Bonded

Plantations

Extent
As
1971
1981
1991
2001

Cigar
Workers
Labour
Minimum
Labour
Act,

of
1.07

1.70

(Conditions
System
wages
1991

of
Employment)
Act,
(Abolition)
Act,
Act,
5)
Mines
Act,

Child
Labour
in
per
census
crores
(5-14
yrs
1.36
crores
(5-14
yrs
crores
(5-14
yrs
2.05
crores
(5-14

1966.
1976.
1948.
1952

India
report
child)
child)
child)
Yrs

child)

But as per other sources the total child labour in different industries and service sector is about 5 crores in our
country.
In Construction Industry in India about 4-7 lakh child labour engaged in work. They are in unskilled manual job. These
child
labour
used
to
move
from
one
place
to
another
along
with
their
parents.
Participation rates of total male, female children in school, labour force-See chart
ILO
statistics
As
per
Global
Report
on
Child
Labour

In 2004 there were 218 million child labourers globally fell by 11% in the last four years, while that of children in
hazardous
work
decreased
by
26%.
Causes
of
Child
Labour
1.
Poverty
and
2.
No
land
reform
in
most
of
3.
Unequal
distribution
of
4.
Non
implementation
of
Government
declared
5.
Non
extention
of
existing
social
security
benefits
as
per
6.
The
low
literacy
levels
7.
The
legacy
of
the
Zamindari
system
and
prevalance
8.
General
acceptance
of
the
society
in
engagment
Child
labour
Nature
In building & construction industry these child labour used to
a.
earth
b.
bucket
c.
brick
d.
brick
loading
e.
helper
to
Mason,
Carpenter,
f.
helper
to
cook
for
preparing
food
g.
Prepare
tea
h.
Operation
of
water

do

the

in

India
unemployment.
the
states.
Assets;
minimum
wage;
laws
of
the
land;
of
adults;
of
bonded
labour;
of
child
labour.
of
following

and
at
and

Painter,
the
pump

Job
work
cutting,
carrying,
stacking,
unloading,
Plumber,
work
site,
supply,
etc.
type

of

Benefits
(1)
extended
to
these
Child
labour
Practically speaking these child labourers are not getting Govt. declared minimum wage, other statutory benefits as
they
are
under
18
years
of
age.
These

Labour

did

not

get

opportunities

for

sports

&

recreation

and

primary

education

too.

The girld child labours are sometimes in some projects become victim of sexual harrassment. In some states these
child labour when moved along with their parents from one district to another one state to another they are being
treated
as
bonded
labour.
Government
Role
Against
Child
Labour
The National Policy on child labour envisages the focusing of different development and welfare programmes
under project based plans of action (National child labour project or NCLPS) in areas with high concentration of child
labour.
NCLP
work
covered
133
child
labour
endemic
districts
covering
13
States.
A National Authority for the Elimination of child Labour has already been constituted by the Govt. of India to
facilitate coordination and convergence of poverty alleviation health and education programme targeting child Labour
and
family.
December 1996 Supreme Court Judgement directing the Union and State Govts. to indentify all child labourers
working in hazardous processes and occupation withdraw them from work and provide them with quality education.
Employers engaging children in hazardous industries are required to pay Rs. 20,000.00 to a child labour welfarecum-Rehabilitation
Fund
for
each
child
worker
found
employed.
The State Govt. is required to provide employment to an adult member of the child Labourer's failing which it must
contribute
Rs.
5000.00
to
the
welfare
fund.
Inspite

of

this

judgement

and

Role

GOI

policy

dicisions

the

problem

of

of

child

labour

the

not

reduced.
Employer

Specially I like to refer here the attitude of thousands of small & medium size contractors are not positive in
accordance
with
GOI
policy
declaration
for
eradication
of
child
Labour.
The Labour suppliers are used to supply child labour along with other adult workers in earth cutting, site leveling and
masonary
work.
You

will

find

child

labour

in

all

the

big

construction

projects

at

the

initial

stage.

Role
of
the
Unions
CITU and our Federation took this issue with due importance and campaign all over India alone and through ILOIPEC
campaign
programme
as
follows
1.
Industry
level,
State
level,
National
level
workers
convention;
2.
Organise
media
campaign
by
video
films,
audio
cassattes,
Street
plays;
3.
Issue
Leaflet
and
posters
in
regional
languages;
4.
Parliament
March
with
mass
signature
Campaign;
ILO
Global
Goal
and
Targets
(
finalised
in
95th
Session
in
2006)
The action plan proposes that ILO and its member states continue to persue the goal of effective abolition of Child
labour by committing themselves to the elimination of all worst forms of child labour by 2016. To this effect, all
member states would, in accordance with Convention No. 182, design and put in place appropriate time-bound
measures
by
the
end
of
2008.
The

proposed

action

plan

rests

on

three

pillars:

1. Supporting national responses to child labour, in particular through more effective

mainstreaming of child labour
concerns
in
national
development
and
policy
frame
works,
2.deepening
and
strengthening
the
world-wide
movement
as
a
catalyst;
and
3.promoting further integration of child labour concern within overall ILO priorities.

There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children.
Nelson Mandela
Children are future citizens of the Nation and their adequate development is utmost priority of
the country. Unfortunately, child labor engulfs children across the world. The world is home to
1.2 billion individuals aged 10-19 years. However, despite its menace in various forms, the data
shows variation in prevalence of child labor across the globe and the statistical figures about
child labor are very alarming. There are an estimated 186 million child laborers worldwide. The
2001 national census of India estimated total number of child labor aged 514 to be at 12.6
million.[1] Small-scale and community-based studies have found estimated prevalence of 12.6
million children engaged in hazardous occupations. Many children are hidden workers
working in homes or in the underground economy.[2] Although the Constitution of India
guarantees free and compulsory education to children between the age of 6 to 14 and prohibits
employment of children younger than 14 in 18 hazardous occupations, child labor is still
prevalent in the informal sectors of the Indian economy.[3] Child labor violates human rights,
and is in contravention of the International Labor Organization (Article 32, Convention Rights of
the Child). About one-third of children of the developing world are failing to complete even 4
years of education.[4] Indian population has more than 17.5 million working children in different
industries, and incidentally maximum are in agricultural sector, leather industry, mining and
match-making industries, etc.[5]
The term child labor is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their
potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical-mental development. It refers to work
that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children, and interferes
with their schooling by depriving them of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to
leave school prematurely or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with
excessively long and heavy work. The statistical figures about child workers in the world have
variation because of the differences in defining categories of age group and engagement of
children in formal and informal sector.[6]
Child labor continues to be a great concern in many parts of the world. In 2008, some 60% of the
215 million boys and girls were estimated to be child laborers worldwide. Major engagement
was in agriculture sector, followed by fisheries, aquaculture, livestock and forestry. In addition to
work that interferes with schooling and is harmful to personal development, many of these
children work in hazardous occupations or activities that are harmful.[7] Incidentally, 96% of the
child workers are in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and South America. With respect to
the child workers between the ages of 5 and 14, Asia makes up 61% of child workers in

developing countries, while Africa has 32% and Latin America 7%. Further, while Asia has the
highest number of child workers, Africa has the highest prevalence of child labor (40%).[8]
Go to:

LAW AND CHILD LABOR

The policy curbing child labor exists but lack of enforcement of labor restrictions perpetuates
child labor. This is manifested in variation in minimum age restriction in different types of
employment. The International Labor Office reports that children work the longest hours and are
the worst paid of all laborers. In India, the Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986
and Rules state that no child shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the occupations set
forth in Part A of the Schedule or in any workshop wherein any of the processes set forth in Part
B of the Schedule is carried on. For this purpose, child means a person who has not completed
his 14th year of age. The Act prohibits employment of children in certain specified hazardous
occupations and processes and regulates the working conditions in others. The list of hazardous
occupations and processes is progressively being expanded on the recommendation of the Child
Labor Technical Advisory Committee constituted under the Act.[9]
Go to:

FORMS OF CHILD LABOR

Children are employed in both formal and informal sectors. Among the occupations wherein
children are engaged in work are construction work, domestic work and small-scale industries.
Incidentally, agriculture is not only the oldest but also the most common child occupation
worldwide. Some of the industries that depend on child labor are bangle-making, beedi-making,
power looms and manufacturing processes. These industries use toxic metals and substances
such as lead, mercury, manganese, chromium, cadmium, benzene, pesticides and asbestos. Child
labor is very harmful and wholehearted efforts to eliminate this should be done.[10]
Go to:

THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD LABOR

The negative impact on the physiological and psychological levels of children includes specific
concerns of child labor and its consequences on mental health. It is worth noting that one-third of
children of the developing world are failing to complete even 4 years of education.[6] The
analysis of factors leading to engagement of children in hazardous factors elucidated
socioeconomic factors as one of the important determinants. Poverty is considered as one of the
contributory factors in child labor.[11]
Mental well being is less frequently researched in child labor.[12] A retrospective cohort study in
Morocco randomly examined 200 children working in the handicraft sector and found a high

prevalence of respiratory, digestive and skin conditions, as well as mental health presentations
such as migraines, insomnia, irritability, enuresis and asthenia.[13]
In a cross-sectional survey, urban Lebanese children aged 1017, working full-time in small
industrial shops, were compared with non-working matched school children. Majority of them
had poor physical health, predominantly marked with skin lesions or ear complaints and social
care needs.[14] Similarly, authors aimed to find out consequences in children in Lebanon
exposed to solvents, and found significantly higher rates of lightheadedness, fatigue, impaired
memory and depression compared with a non-exposed group.[15] A cross-sectional study in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, used diagnostic interviews to assess prevalence of mental disorders in
528 child laborers and street workers, child domestics and private enterprise workers aged
between 5 and 15 years. The prevalence of mental disorders was noted to be as high as 20.1%
compared with 12.5% in the general population.[16] Further study to establish the association
between labor-related variables and mental health problems was carried out among 780 children
engaged in labor (aged 918 years) in the Gaza Strip. Mental health problems of children in
labor were likely to be associated with socioeconomic determinants as well as factors related to
their underage employment.[17]
The physical and social consequences are deliberated by researchers; however, mental health
area has not been explored so much. Studies are lacking even in Indian scenario regarding impact
of child labor on mental health.
Go to:

INTERVENTION AND CHILD LABOR

Education is a very important part of development. Children who are drawn to child labor are
basically driven because of economic deprivation, lack of schooling and engagement of family
for daily needs. Studies have found low enrollment with increased rates of child employment.
Schools are the platform for early intervention against child labor, as it restricts their
participation in menial jobs. Hurdles in this approach are economic reasons. Unless economic
change is brought about, the children will not be able to attend the school. Child labor can be
controlled by economic development increasing awareness and making education affordable
across all levels, and enforcement of anti child labor laws.[18]
The Government of India has taken certain initiatives to control child labor. The National Child
Labor Project (NCLP) Scheme was launched in 9 districts of high child labor endemicity in the
country. Under the scheme, funds are given to the District Collectors for running special schools
for child labor. Most of these schools are run by the NGOs in the district. Under the scheme,
these children are provided formal/informal education along with vocational training, and a
stipend of Rs. 100 per month. Health check-up is also done for them.
Go to:

CONCLUSION

Poverty is one of the important factors for this problem. Hence, enforcement alone cannot help
solve it. The Government has been laying a lot of emphasis on the rehabilitation of these children
and on improving the economic conditions of their families.
Many NGOs like CARE India, Child Rights and You, Global March Against Child Labor, etc.,
have been working to eradicate child labor in India. The child labor can be stopped when
knowledge is translated into legislation and action, moving good intention and ideas into
protecting the health of the children. The endurance of young children is higher and they cannot
protest against discrimination. Focusing on grassroots strategies to mobilize communities against
child labor and reintegration of child workers into their homes and schools has proven crucial to
breaking the cycle of child labor. A multidisciplinary approach involving specialists with
medical, psychological and socio-anthropological level is needed to curb this evil.[19]
It is in this context that we have to take a relook at the landmark passing of the Right of Children
to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009, which marks a historic moment for the
children of India. For the first time in India's history, children will be guaranteed their right to
quality elementary education by the state with the help of families and communities. The world
cannot reach its goal to have every child complete primary school by 2015 without India.
Although there have been significant improvements in the proportion of children from socially
disadvantaged groups in school, gaps still remain. Girls are still less likely to enroll in school
than boys; in 2005, for upper primary school (Grades 68) girls enrollment was still 8.8 points
lower than boys, for Scheduled Tribes (ST) the gender gap was 12.6 points and it was 16 points
for Scheduled Castes (SC). RTE provides a ripe platform to reach the unreached, with specific
provisions for disadvantaged groups such as child laborers, migrant children, children with
special needs, or those who have a disadvantage owing to social, cultural economical,
geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factors. Bringing 8 million out-of-school children
into classes at the age-appropriate level with the support to stay in school and succeed poses a
major challenge. Substantial efforts are essential to eliminate disparities and ensure quality with
equity. Successful implementation of the Act would certainly go a long way in eradicating child
labor in India.
Go to:

REFERENCES
1. Basu K, Tzannatos Z. The Global Child Labor Problem: What Do We Know and What Can
We Do? World Bank Econ Rev. 2003;17:14773.
2. Angnihotram RV. An overview of occupational health research in India. Indian Journal of
Occupational Environ Med. 2005;9:104.
3. Burra, Neera Child labour in rural areas with a special focus on migration, agriculture,
mining and brick kilns National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. [Last retrieved on
2009 Oct 19]. www.ncpcr.gov.in/report .
4. Unicef, Guide to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. 2006. [Last accessed on 2006].
Available from: http://www.unicef.org/crc/
5. Tiwari RR. Child labour in footwear Industry: Possible occupational health hazards. Indian J
Occup Environ Med. 2005;9:79.

6. Geneva, Switzerland: ILO; 2003. International Labour Organisation Combating Child Labour
through Education 2003.
7. ILO good practice guide for addressing child labour in fisheries and aquaculture: Policy and
practice preliminary version international labour organization. 2011
8. ILO. Child Labor: How the challenge is being met. Int Labor Rev. 1997;136:23357.
9. Child Labour and Responses in South Asia International Labour Organization (ILO) 19962012
10. Cooper SP, Rothstein MA. Health hazards among working children in Texas. South Med J.
1995;88:5504. [PubMed]
11. Ali M, Shahab S, Ushijima H, de Muynck A. Street children in Pakistan: A situational
analysis of social conditions and nutritional status. Soc Sci Med. 2004;59:170717. [PubMed]
12. Khan H, Hameed A, Afridi AK. Study on child labour in automobile workshops of Peshawar,
Pakistan. East Mediterr Health J. 2007;13:1497502. [PubMed]
13. Laraqui CH, Caubet A, Laraqui O, Belamallem I, Harourate K, Curtes JP, et al. Child labour
in the artisan sector of Morocco: Determinants and health effects. Sante Publique. 2000;12:31
43. [PubMed]
14. Nuwayhid IA, Usta J, Makarem M, Khudr A, El-Zein A. Health of children working in small
urban industrial shops. Occup Environ Med. 2005;62:8694. [PMC free article] [PubMed]
15. Saddik B, Nuwayhid I, Williamson A, Black D. Evidence of neurotoxicity in working
children in Lebanon. Neurotoxicology. 2003;24:7339. [PubMed]
16. Fekadu D, Alem A, Hgglf B. The prevalence of mental health problems in Ethiopian child
labourers. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2006;47:9549. [PubMed]
17. Thabet AA, Matar S, Carpintero A, Bankart J, Vostanis P. Mental health problems among
labour children in the Gaza Strip Child: Care, health and development. 2010;1:17. [PubMed]
18. Geneva: ILO; 1992. ILO (International Labour Office). World Labour Report 1992.
19. Yadav SK, Gowri Sengupta G. Environmental and occupational health problems of child
labour: Some Issues and Challenges for Future. J Hum Ecol. 2009;28:1438.