ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: The National Assembly adopted on Nov 13 a bill which after the president’s assent will guarantee all children of five to sixteen years of age free quality education. The Senate has already passed the bill: ‘Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012’. Originally, the bill was meant for schools established by the federal government and within the Islamabad Capital Territory, but, referring to Article 25-A of the Constitution, the National Assembly unanimously called upon all provincial governments to adopt similar bills as soon as possible, ensuring access to quality education for all children of school-going age. After the passage of the 18th Amendment, the federal government cannot legislate on education for the provincial governments. However, … [Read more...]
Child rights: Law to set minimum age for child work
LAHORE, May 28th: The Labour Department is set to propose 14 years as the minimum age of employment in the draft of the Prohibition of the Employment of Children Act (PECA), The Express Tribune has learnt. The PECA is set to replace the Employment of Children Act (ECA) 1991. Saeed Awan, the director of the Centre for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (CIWCE) in the Labour Department, told The Express Tribune that the ECA did not set a minimum age of employment. “The new child labour law will change this basic premise,” he said. The ECA defines a ‘child’ as one below the age of 14 and an ‘adolescent’ as one between the ages of 14 and 18. It banned child labour in four occupations and 34 processes. For other occupations, it offered a regulatory … [Read more...]
‘Punjab to revise child labour laws’
LAHORE, May 18: PUNJAB Labour Minister Haji Ehsaan-ud-Din Qureshi has said the Punjab government will revise the child labour laws in view of the ratification by Pakistan on the International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions 138 and 182 on child labour. He said the ILO was assisting the government in adopting new laws, as labour department had been devolved to provinces under the 18th Amendment. He expressed these views while presiding over the departmental meetings regarding socio-economic uplift and welfare of labourers at his office on May 17. Published by Daily The News on May 18, 2012 … [Read more...]
Women trafficking
PESHAWAR, April 18: The Provincial Commission on the Status of Women on April 17 held a consultation with MPAs to review the Women Trafficking Bill of MPA Shazia Tehmas, which was introduced in the provincial assembly in 2010 to be enacted into a law. According to a statement the objective of the session was to review the bill in terms of its content, scope and provisions and to reach a consensus draft addressing gaps if any. The participants provided inputs which shall be incorporated into the existing draft for legislation. Women trafficking is a grave issue prevailing in various parts of the province and in different forms. Published by Daily Dawn on April 18, 2012 … [Read more...]