MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Labour dept terms them ‘migrant’ labourers
PANJIM, APRIL 6
Child right activists have claimed presence of child labour in Goa even as the state labour department clarified that these labourers were ‘non Goans’ and ‘migrants’.
In a survey conducted by three different NGOs-Children’s Rights in Goa (CRG), Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ) and Jan Ugahi Trust (JUT) it has been revealed that there is child labour in Goa especially in households and in hotels and restaurants.
However, deputy labour commissioner Fatima Rodrigues says that as per the Child Labour and Prohibition act 1986 there is no child labour in the state.
“Inspections are carried out on regular basis in the entire state but till date not a single case of child labour has been registered,” she told reporters today evening.
Rodrigues informed that in November 2009, a survey was carried out in all parts of the state covering nearly 800-odd establishments but the department could not predict a single case of child labour.
“As per the act we cannot consider any child as labour unless we have proper documentations. Even though we see a child working, we cannot register a case because there are no enough evidences to prove that the child is below 14 years,” Rodrigues explained.
The NGOs have covered fewer establishments across the state in which they could track 34 child labourers. The establishments include hotels, bars, shacks and domestic workers.
However, Rodrigues said that these are not local child labourers but they are migrants.
“These children are mostly from Karnataka, Orissa, Bihar Andhra Pradesh and other poor parts of the country, who mostly come here for earnings. These children come for a certain period of time and also shift from one occupation to other,” Rodrigues stated.
The NGOs have already rescued two children out of 34 and have been rehabilitated through their parents.
Jorge, member of Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL) said that the survey was part of a process initiated in Delhi on October 9, 2009 by members of CACL and Campaign Against Child Trafficking (CACT), who launched a National Social Audit of the government of India’s ban on employment of children in the domestic and eateries sector.
He said since in-spite of 2006 notification of central government over banning of child labour in domestic and hotel sector, the states have failed in implementing the existing legislation.
“It is shame that there is no rehabilitation plan in place in the states like Goa,” Jorge lamented.
The NGOs in their presentation pointed out that since the notification of the central government in October 2006, there has been rise in child labour at domestic and eateries sector.
The data revealed that in 2006 only four cases of child labour were found whereas in 2007 then number went upto 12. Similarly in 2008 and 2009, 17 and 22 cases were registered respectively.
