ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill that calls for banning child labour in the capital.

Titled `The Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Employment of Children Act 2017`, the bill was tabled by MNA Shazia Marri.

The proposed law says that the Constitution guarantees the protection of children and requires that provisions be made to ensure a just and humane environment and to ensure children are not employed in vocations not suited to their age.

The bill suggests that a person who employs a child shall be punishable with an imprisonment term which may extend to six months and a fine of up to Rs50,000 or both.

It also says that if a child is employed in any hazardous work, the fine may extend to Rs100,000 but not less than Rs10,000 and imprisonment which may extend to three years.

The proposed law says that if a child or adolescent is employed in any form of slavery such as the sale and trafficking of children or forced labour, or are used in child prostitution or pornography, or for the production and trafficking of drugs, the fine may be extended to Rs1 million and not less than Rs200,000 and the imprisonment term can be extended up to 10 years and not less than five years.

It says that any person, police official or labour inspector may file a complaint for the commission of an offence and that the government may appoint and notify inspectors for the purpose of securing compliance with any or all provisions of this act.

The bill has categorised 38 occupations as hazardous including transport of passengers and goods, working in underground mines, sandblasting, exposure to cement dust and working at a height of two meters and above.

The bill also says that children should not work in tobacco processing and manufacturing or at cinemas, mini cinemas and cyber cafes.

The bill will now be sent to Senate from where it will have to be passed in 90 days to become law. In case amendments are made in Senate, it will be sent back to the lower house for voting. A Reporter