The government is reportedly preparing to increase the maximum fine imposed on individuals convicted of employing children from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 100,000.

It is reported that the proposal has been submitted by the Minister of Labour through amendments to the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act.

The relevant Bill has already been presented to Parliament and published in the Government Gazette.

Under the proposed amendments, any person found guilty by a court of employing a child in a public or private industrial undertaking will be liable to a fine of up to Rs. 100,000.

The current maximum fine for such an offence is Rs. 10,000.

The draft legislation further provides that any person convicted of employing an individual under the age of 18 may face a fine of up to Rs. 100,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.

According to the Bill, courts will have the authority to impose both the fine and the prison sentence on offenders where appropriate.