Legislation: Cabinet approves policy on domestic workers

Cabinet approves Private Education Commission Bill

LAHORE: The provincial cabinet on Thursday approved the Punjab Domestic Workers Policy, 2015, and drafts of the Restriction of Employment of Children Act, 2015, and amendments to the Animal Slaughter Control Bill, 2015, the Punjab Poultry Production Act, 2013, and the Private Education Commission Bill 2014.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Shraif chaired the meeting.The Restriction of Employment of Children Act, 2015, will ban employing of children below the age of 14 years for any kind of industrial labour. Under the Animal Slaughter Control Amendment Bill, 2015, those caught selling haram or carrion meat will be imprisoned for four to eight years and fined between Rs300,000 and Rs500,000. The penalty for selling substandard or harmful meat has also been enhanced. Selling substandard, harmful and haram meat will be a non-bailable offence. Under the Private Education Commission Bill, 2014, a 17-member commission will be formed to regulate private schools. Under the bill, private schools will be graded for regulating their fee structure. They will also be required to provide free education to 10 per cent of their students who come from low-income families. The commission will check exploitation of teachers at private schools. Committees at district level will ensure that the legislation is implemented. Private schools must get registered within 90 days of the establishment of the commission.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 18^th, 2015.