36 brick kilns closed in ICT, NA told
Smoke rises form brick kilns in Peshawar. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Minister of State for Law, Shahadat Awan, revealed in the National Assembly that the government has taken strict action against child labour violations in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
As a result, 36 brick kilns have been closed, and cases were registered against those found guilty of employing child labour. The minister also addressed supplementary questions and highlighted that despite the devolution of labour welfare matters after the 18th constitutional amendment, various laws are currently in place to combat child labour.
He said the enforced laws in the ICT include the Factories Act of 1934, the Shops and Establishments Ordinance of 1969, the Employment of Children Act of 1991, the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 1992, and the Employment of Children Rules of 1995. Additionally, provinces have their own set of laws to tackle the issue.
These include the Punjab Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Act of 2016, the Punjab Restriction on Employment of Children Act of 2016, the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2018, the Sindh Prohibition of Employment of Children Act of 2017, and the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act of 2015.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2023.