After releasing the draft version of the above Rules on 20 April 2017, and getting feedback and comments from the general public on the same, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has released and notified the revised rules. The following important amendments have been made under the Rules:
- A new S. 2A has been inserted in the Rules, which provides for various methods by which the Central Government may ensure that the general public is educated on and made aware of the Rules, such as by arranging public awareness campaigns, promoting the reporting of violating companies/enterprises, and by including relevant Rules in the education syllabi across the country.
- A new S. 2B has been inserted in the Rules, which has allowed children to work to help/aid his family and/or family enterprise, as long as the work does not affect the child’s education. In addition, the work done by the child should not include any hazardous occupation (as defined under the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986), any part of a manufacturing, production or supply process, and can only be for a maximum of 3 (three) hours in a day).
- A new S. 2C has been inserted in the Rules, which allows children to work as an artist for a maximum of 5 (five) hours a day. However, if the child is to be involved in any audio-visual production/commercial event, then the permission of the District Magistrate will be required by the producer of such event beforehand. Additionally, at no point can a child’s work as an artist hamper his/her education.