New Delhi: The government on Monday said the
ILO conventions, seeking elimination of the worst form of
child labour, was not yet ratified because some socio-economic
conditions which are unique to India were obstructing the
setting up of its necessary legislative framework.
India is only among a handful of countries left to
ratify the ILO convention 182 which concerns elimination of
worst forms of child labour and convention 138 which seeks to
fix minimum age of employment as 18 years.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish
Rawat, replying to question in Lok Sabha, said under the
existing socio-economic conditions in the country and
compelling conditions, children are forced to seek employment
to supplement their family income.
Under these circumstances, increasing the minimum age
of employment from 14 to 18 years may further push these poor
families into poverty, he said.
His reply comes in the backdrop of the Labour Minister
Mallikarjun Kharge`s statement earlier that they were trying
to build a consensus among different stakeholders to get both
the conventions ratified.
PTI
