It puts an upper limit of Rs50,000 on advances (peshgi) given to kilns workers.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The bill prescribes a six month prison term and up to Rs500,000 fine to those caught employing children under the age of 14 years at brick kilns.
No more than 30 lawmakers were present when the session started with a delay of around two hours. However, the House managed to complete its agenda for the day.
The bill also sought an upper limit of Rs50,000 on advance payment (peshgi) given to kilns workers by owners at the start of their employment. It prohibited work at kiln for children under the age of 14 years referring to the kiln environment as hazardous for the growth, health and education of children. It held kiln owners and parents or guardians of children jointly responsible for their employment at kilns. The bill prescribed that a copy of the written contract between kiln owners and workers should be submitted to the police authorities concerned.
Earlier, the Opposition expressed its reservations over the draft of the bill calling it ‘incomplete’ and ‘flawed’. Particularly, it opposed the bill’s definition of a child (a person who has not completed the fourteenth year of age) and said that it should be revised in view of the Article 25-A of the Constitution under which free and compulsory education had been recognised as a right for all children from five to 16 years of age. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the age limit had been set in accordance with labour laws pertaining to children. He said advance payment made to the workers were the real problem and the government would gradually ban the practice. He said the law would soon be extended to the auto workshop sector.
The House unanimously passed the Punjab Civilian Victims of Terrorism (Relief and Rehabilitation) Bill of 2016. It sought timely recognition and assistance for civilian victims of terrorism. The bill defined the civilian as a person other than (a terrorist) or personnel of law enforcement agencies on duty during incidents of terrorism. It said that the state should be responsible for healthcare needs of the civilian victims of terrorism without any discrimination based on gender, age, race, religion and place of birth.
The House also passed amendments to the Punjab Civil Courts Bill of 2016. The much delayed annual reports of development authorities of Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi and of the Parks and Horticulture Authority, Lahore, were also laid in the House.
Leader of the Opposition Mehmoodur Rasheed condemned the government for investing billions of rupees on mega projects but ignoring municipal services like sewerage systems. He said the city had been flooded with water after a brief spell of rain on Monday morning.
The question hour included discussion on the Auqaf, Environment Protection and the Mines and Minerals Departments.
The session will continue on Tuesday morning.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 30th, 2016.
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