Lok Sabha Question No. 170 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-17
Subject: Participation of Children in Entertainment Industry
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 170 TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.07.2017

## PARTICIPATION OF CHILDREN IN ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

170. ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  considering  to  stiffen  the  rules  to regulate  participation  of  children  in  any  form  of  audio  or  visual entertainment, including advertisement, films, television serials or sports, hitting the burgeoning child entertainment industry in India;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  it  would  be  mandatory  for  producers  to  seek  written permission  to  be  renewed  every  six  months  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d)whether 5 hours in a day has been stipulated as working hours for child  artistes  and  3  hours  working  time  set  for  them  without  any break; and
- (e)if so, the details and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a) to (e): The  employment  or  work  of  children  below  14  year  has been completely prohibited subsequent to the enactment of the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 effective from 1.9.2016.  However  in  exception  to  the  above  provision  of  the  Act, artists in an audiovisual entertainment industry, including advertisement, films, television serials or any such other entertainment or sports activities except the circus, has been permitted to work subject to certain conditions and safety measures.

As per the provision of the Act, the Central Government has prescribed these conditions and safety measures in the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Amendment Rules, 2017 notified on 2.6.2017. The Rules have been provided to ensure safety and security, education, mental and physical health of the child, safe working conditions for children and  protection  of  child  against  sexual  offences.  The  Rules  includes following provisions:

- (i) No child shall be allowed to work for more than five hours in a day, and for not more than three hours without rest.
- (ii)  Any  producer  of  any  audio  -visual  media  production  or  any commercial event involving the participation of a child, shall involve a child  in  participation  only  after  obtaining  the  permission  from  the District Magistrate of the district where the activity is to be performed, with an undertaking indicating the list of child participants, consent of parents/ guardian, name of the individual from the production or event responsible for the safety and security of the child etc. This undertaking would be valid for six months.
- (iii) One responsible person be appointed for maximum of five children for the production or event, so as to ensure the protection, care and best interest of the child;
- (iv) No child shall be made to participate in any audio visual and sports activity including informal entertainment activity against his will and consent.

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