India ratifies two ILO conventions on child labour

Geneva, June 13 (IANS) India on Tuesday ratified two core conventions of International Labour Organisation (ILO) on child labour -- a global commitment to end the worst form of child labour and to ensure minimum basic education for children.

Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya handed over the Instruments of Ratification to the ILO in Geneva as part of the ceremony.

The ILO has welcomed India's "great progress" against child labour and the role played by its convergence model of coherence between public policies and services.

The Union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the ratification of the two conventions last month.

The Convention number 138 deals with minimum age for admission to employment, while number 182 concerns prohibition and immediate action for elimination of the worst forms of child labour.

According to an official statement here, the Minister dubbed it a historic moment, and said the ratification reaffirmed India's "commitment to a child labour-free society.

Speaking on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference 2017, Dattatreya also mentioned a series of measures taken by the Centre, including amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which came into effect in September last.

This amendment, he said, now completely prohibits employment or work of children below 14 years in any occupation or process and also prohibits the employment of adolescents (14 to 18 years) in hazardous occupations and processes.

In addition, the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Central Rules, as recently amended, for the first time provide for a broad and specific framework for prevention, prohibition, rescue, and rehabilitation of child and adolescent workers, the Minister added.

"The momentum of the recent initiatives taken to eradicate child labour has to be maintained as elimination of child labour is also crucial for the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030," Dattatreya said.

Welcoming India among member-states which are party to the two fundamental conventions, ILO Director General Guy Ryder said: "We all recognise the great progress India has made against child labour in recent years... India's ratifications of conventions 138 and 182 solidifies further that commitment to a global fight against the scourge of child labour in all its forms."

India is a founder-member of the ILO, which came into existence in 1919. At present, the organisation has 187 members.

The ILO sets international standards in the form of conventions, recommendations, and protocol. India has so far ratified 45 conventions, of which 42 are in force.

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