Arjun Poudel

The government has formed a special committee to rescue and rehabilitate about 500 children under 14 who have been employed as domestic workers.

The government move comes after various surveys revealed that a large numbers of children under14 employed are employed as domestic workers in the capital.

The government on Tuesday has formed a committee under the leadership of the Zonal Labor office to undertake the task. The committee comprises of representatives from Central Child Welfare Board (CCWB), Directorate of Women and Children, and Children - Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWISH).

“The committee will collect information about domestic child workers in the capital within a month,” said Pradeep Dongol, child protection officer at CWISH. After the survey, the committee will give the employers one week to set the children free. “If the employers do not comply, the labor office will file a case against them in the labor court.”

He said the committee will also take help from the police to rescue the children.

On the other hand, the employers may face one-year jail term or a fine of Rs 50,000, or Dongol revealed World Education and Save the children will provide necessary assistance to rehabilitate the children.

“The World Education and Save the Children have committed to provide educational and other necessary assistance to the rescued children,” he said.

Nepal´s Child Labor (prohibition and regulation) Act- 2000 defines children below 16 years of age as minors and forbids employers from engaging them in hard labor.

Published on: 11 May 2011 | Republica