Watering down labour laws will harm children too

Watering down labour laws will harm children too.

Labour law experts and activists in the field say that eleven states relaxing labour laws, schools staying closed and migrant workers returning to their home states will lead to a big rise in child labour in the country.

The changes states have made to labour laws are of two kinds: those that take away many labour rights, and those that increase working hours. Along with causing great harm to workers, these changes are a big threat to children and adolescents.

15% of the world's child and adolescent labour takes place in India. It is estimated that about one crore children and about 2 crore 29 lakh adolescents work in India. In the new situation today, more adolescents will be forced to leave school and work to raise family income.

Activists in the field say more children too will be forced to work.

The present situation will also lengthen the working hours of children and adolescents who were already forced to work.