THE CHILDREN (PLEDGING OF LABOUR) ACT, 1933

ACT NO. 2 OF 1933 1*

[24th February, 1933.]

An Act to prohibit the pledging of the labour of children.

      WHEREAS it  is expedient  to prohibit the making of agreements to
pledge the  labour of  children, and  the employment of children whose
labour has been pledged;

      It is hereby enacted as follows:--


1.

Short title, extent and commencement.


      1. Short  title, extent  and commencement.- (1) This  Act may  be
called the Children (Pledging of Labour) Act, 1933.

      2*[(2) It extends to the whole of India 3***.]

      (3) This  section and  sections 2  and 3 shall come into force at
once, and  the remaining sections of this Act shall come into force on
the first day of July, 1933.


2.

Definitions.


      2. Definitions.- In this  Act, unless there is anything repugnant
in the subject or context,--

           "an agreement  to pledge  the labour  of a  child" means  an
                agreement, written or oral, express or implied, whereby
                the parent  or guardian  of a  child, in return for any
                payment or  benefit received  or to be received by him,
                undertakes to  cause or allow the services of the child
                to be utilised in any employment:

                     Provided that  an agreement made without detriment
                to a  child, and  not  made  in  consideration  of  any
                benefit other  than reasonable wages to be paid for the
                child's services,  and terminable  at not  more than  a
                week's notice,  is not  an agreement within the meaning
                of this definition;

           "child" means  a person  who is  under the  age  of  fifteen
            years; and  "guardian"  includes  any  person  having
                  legal custody of or control over a child.
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1.   This Act has been extended to Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of
      1963, s.  2 and Sch. I; Pondicherry  by  Reg. 7 of 1963, s. 3 and
      Sch. I and Laccadive, Minicoy and  Amindivi Islands  by Reg. 2 of
      1970, s. 2 and Sch.
2.   Subs. by the A. O. 1950, for sub-section (2).
3.   The words  "except the State of Jammu and kashmir" omitted by Act
      51 of 1970, s. 2 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).

86


3.

Agreements contrary to the Act to be void.


      3. Agreements contrary to  the Act  to be  void.- An agreement to
pledge the labour of a child shall be void.


4.

Penalty for  parent or  guardian making agreement to pledge the labourof a
child.


      4. Penalty  for parent or guardian making agreement to pledge the
labour of a child.-  Whoever, being the parent or guardian of a child,
makes an  agreement to  pledge the  labour of  that  child,  shall  be
punished with fine which may extend to fifty rupees.


5.

Penalty for  making with  a parent  or guardian an agreement to pledgethe
labour of a child.


      5. Penalty  for making  with a parent or guardian an agreement to
pledge the  labour of a child.-  Whoever  makes  with  the  parent  or
guardian of  a child  an agreement  whereby such  parent  or  guardian
pledges the  labour of the child shall be punished with fine which may
extend to two hundred rupees.


6.

Penalty for employing a child whose labour has been pledged.


      6. Penalty  for employing a child whose labour has been pledged.-
Whoever, knowing  or having  reason to  believe that  an agreement has
been made  to pledge  the labour  of a  child, in  furtherance of such
agreement employs  such child, or permits such child to be employed in
any premises  or place  under his control, shall be punished with fine
which may extend to two hundred rupees.

URL: http://indiacode.nic.in/fullact1.asp?tfnm=193302