LAHORE - The steering committee on elimination of child labour in the brick-kiln industry yesterday decided to take stern action against the brick kiln owners who would engage children to work.
A meeting of the committee presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced to issue soon an ordinance to make legal framework effective and comprehensive for elimination of child labour at brick kilns.
The chief minister while addressing expressed his strong commitment to end child labour in brick kiln industry and enroll the working children in schools. He said the children admitted to schools after removal from the kiln labour, will be given stipend in addition to encouraging them to education through other means.
He said that special committees will be constituted at district level for elimination of child labour at brick kilns.
The chief minister directed DCOs and DPOs of concerned districts to closely monitor performance of district committees set up to end child labour and ensure meeting them every week in addition to holding visit to brick kilns to ensure no child works there.
Shahbaz Sharif directed that the concerned departments should formulate draft ordinance at the earliest regarding elimination of child labour.
He directed Secretary Industry that a report with regard to registration of brick kilns should be submitted within seven days and the boarding and lodging of children in schools should also be considered. He further directed that a comprehensive programme for providing treatment and other medical facilities to the children should be evolved.
Meanwhile, Minister Labour and Human Resources Raja Ashfaq Sarwar chaired meeting of Steering Committee constituted for taking steps for elimination of child labour from brick kilns at Civil Secretariat yesterday.
Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chief Secretary Punjab Khizar Hayat Gondal, IG Punjab Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, secretaries of Home, Labour, Schools, Industries and representatives of concerned departments attended the meeting.
Raja Ashfaq Sarwar apprised the meeting about enrolment of out of school children in government schools. Punjab Cabinet has approved Restrictions of Employment of Children Act to discourage child labour at all levels.