The Link Between Child Labour and Child Trafficking
Child labour and child trafficking are deeply connected issues affecting millions of children in India. Children forced into labour are often vulnera....
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India's Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986, aims to protect children from exploitation by banning hazardous work and regulating their employment. This law marked a significant shift towards recognizing children's rights to safety, dignity, and education. It prohibits child labour under 14 years in all occupations and protects adolescents aged 14 to 18 from hazardous jobs. The 2016 Amendment increased penalties for violations, highlighting India's commitment to child protection. Despite progress, challenges remain in enforcement and social acceptance of child labour. Child Labour Act serves as a foundation for stronger child protection initiatives, including support systems for rescued children.
India’s Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act, 1986, protects children from exploitation by banning hazardous work and regulating other employment. It marked a shift from factory-focused rules to recognising children’s rights to safety, dignity, and education as vital protections today.
The Child Labour Act 1986 was created with one clear vision: to safeguard children and remove them from harmful and exploitative labour.
The main objective has always been to ensure children can experience a safe and meaningful childhood and that families and communities understand why protecting children is essential for India’s future.
The introduction of the Child Labour Prohibition Act in 1986 was a turning point. It came at a time when child exploitation was widely visible, and India was becoming more serious about meeting global child rights standards.
Earlier laws were weak and limited to industrial work. The 1986 Act expanded protection and laid the foundation for stronger laws that would follow.
The law also allowed children to assist in family enterprises, and entertainment provided the work was safe and did not interfere with their schooling.
The 2016 Amendment significantly increased penalties to discourage violations. Employers hiring children illegally can face heavy fines and even imprisonment. Repeat offenders face stricter action.
These penalties are meant to show that India takes child protection seriously and will not tolerate child exploitation.
Also Read: What is Child Labour?
The law has come a long way from the early factory-based regulations during colonial times. After independence, India began focusing more on justice, equality, and dignity for children. Laws such as the Factories Act 1948 and Mines Act 1952 banned child labour in specific sectors.
The 1986 Act brought everything together, paving the way for a stronger child protection system.
The 2016 Amendment strengthened the Act, fully prohibited child labour, protected adolescents, and aligned India with global standards.
In 2017, India ratified ILO Conventions 138 and 182 to combat child labour.
The Right to Education Act 2009 supports the fight by guaranteeing free schooling for children aged 6 - 14.
The government has set up strong systems to enforce the law. These include Labour Departments, Child Welfare Committees, special courts, and the National Child Labour Project, which helps rescued children rebuild their lives.
The Juvenile Justice Act also recognises working children as being in need of care and protection, ensuring they receive support, education, and rehabilitation.
Also Read: Types of Child Labour
The law has certainly made India’s child protection framework stronger. However, completely ending child labour remains a challenge. Implementation gaps, social acceptance, and poverty still push children into work.
Yet with continued effort, the journey towards ending child labour is moving in the right direction.
The biggest challenge is enforcement. Low conviction rates, limited inspections, and understaffed departments weaken the impact of the law. Social acceptance of child labour in many communities remains a barrier.
The 2016 family enterprise exemption also creates room for misuse, making it easier for children to continue working under unsafe conditions.
Despite challenges, real success is visible. Organisations like CRY have shown what focused effort can achieve. In CRY project areas, interventions have helped protect a significant proportion of children from child labour and ensure they remain in school. In 2024-25, CRY team protected 32,472 children from child labour/ marriage/ trafficking. These success stories show that change is possible when laws are supported with strong action on the ground.
Also Read: Causes of Child Labour
To fully eliminate child labour, India needs stronger enforcement, better public awareness, and universal access to quality education. Laws alone cannot end child labour. Communities, families, schools, and governments must work together to create lasting change.
NGOs play an essential role by supporting families, raising awareness, engaging with communities, and helping children return to school. They strengthen local systems and ensure that children’s voices are heard.
Organisations like CRY work closely with schools, Anganwadi centres, and local authorities to protect children at every level.
Awareness is one of the strongest tools against child labour. CRY runs campaigns that educate communities about the law, child rights, and the importance of education. When communities understand the harm child labour causes, they become active partners in protecting children.
CRY India has been a leading force in protecting children since 1979. It works to ensure every child enjoys a safe childhood filled with learning, health, protection, and hope.
CRY works with communities, schools, local authorities, and systems to strengthen learning environments, support child education, and address vulnerabilities that push children into labour.
Through community engagement, school support, and advocacy, CRY is shaping a future where every child grows up safe, confident, and free from exploitation.
The Act has been strengthened through several amendments, especially the major change in 2016. It banned employment of children under 14 in all occupations (except in specific family-based work, as defined by the 2016 Amendment), restricted adolescents from hazardous work, increased punishments for employers, and aligned India with international standards to provide stronger protection and better safety for all children.
The Act has gradually shifted from regulating child labour to fully protecting children. Starting in 1986 with limited bans, it expanded to include more hazardous occupations and gained stronger support through later laws. The 2016 Amendment marked the biggest shift by giving children stronger protection and prioritising education nationwide.
The Act was created because children were widely exploited in unsafe jobs. Activists, researchers, and global organisations pushed for stronger laws. To address these concerns, the government combined scattered rules into one dedicated Act in 1986, banning hazardous work and laying a clear foundation for child safety across the country.
The Act has helped reduce hazardous child labour and increased public awareness. Many children now have better access to education and safer environments. However, complete success is limited by poverty, lack of reporting, and weak enforcement in some areas. Continued efforts are needed to ensure complete protection for every child.
Child labour and child trafficking are deeply connected issues affecting millions of children in India. Children forced into labour are often vulnera....
Read More
Child labour and education are closely linked, as a lack of quality schooling often leads children into the workforce. Child labour continue....
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