CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Reply To:
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Eligibility age for recruiting children raised to 16 years
The eligibility age for children for recruitment has been raised from 14 to 16 years, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) said.
In a special notice, NCPA Chairman Prof. Muditha Widanapathirana stated that the legal process of raising the age limit was based on the 2016 Education Act, which extended the age of compulsory education to 16 years under the Ministry's Education Regulations.
Children between the ages of 16 and 18 can only be hired for jobs that do not endanger their lives, health, education, or growth, and they cannot be employed in hazardous conditions or at night.
Parents and brokers who engage children in begging are liable to face an imprisonment up to 5 years under Section 288 of the Penal Code. It is an offence under criminal law to engage children in street trading, to make money from circus and other recreational activities, to sell drugs and alcohol to children, and to use children in prostitution.
It is also an offence under criminal law to use children for commercial purposes through cyber technology. If such an incident is detected, the NCPA will take legal action against employers who employ children, regulate such activities, and refer legal action to the Labour Department to take legal action against child labour. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)
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