NCPCR seeks increase in child labour age limit to 18

Seeking increase in the upper age-limit from 14 to 18 for ban on child labour, National Commission for Protection of Child rights (NCPCR) today laid down a set of recommendations to extend social protection to child labourers.
The Commission underlined the need for a baseline survey to ascertain the number of children employed as labourers and underscored the need for greater clarity to highlight the linkages of social security schemes with child rights, a statement by NCPCR said.
Stressing on legal frameworks governing child labour, it also stated that the onus of proof should be on the accused in the Amended Child Labour Act instead of the prosecution.

The recommendations were made after consultations between NCPCR, UNICEF and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) at a national level meet held here today, on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour.
Commemorated on June 12 each year, the Day highlights the plight of millions of children around the world who are exploited through various forms of labour.
Under the theme "Extend social protection: Combat child labour", the convention, this year, sought to highlight the role of social protection in keeping children out of child labour and removing them from it.