LAHORE: Spokesman Punjab government Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that around 500 cases of child labour were reported during checking of 2,517 brick kilns since issuance of Prohibition of Child Labour at Brick Kilns Ordinance 2016.
The FIRs had been registered against 498 brick kiln owners, while 472 brick kiln owners were arrested and 201 brick kilns had been sealed so far, he added.
He expressed these views while speaking at a press conference. Secretary Labour & Human Resource Department Ali Sarfraz was present on the occasion.
Zaeem Hussain Qadri said elimination of child labour and provision of free education to the children of brick kiln workers was mission of the present government.
He said the Punjab government would ensure implementation on the Ordinance and the education to the children of brick kiln labourers would be ensured in government schools during next three months.
He advised brick kiln owners that being a patriotic Pakistanis, they should help the Punjab government in uplifting the living standard of brick kiln workers through education and eliminating child labour instead of going to strike.
Zaeem Qadri said that there was no justification of strike as the Punjab government had already taken the Brick Kilns Owners Association into confidence in formulating this Ordinance.
He said that Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had directed to carry out indiscriminate action for eliminating the menace of child labour at all brick kilns throughout the province and no leniency should be shown to anyone. Teams comprising DCOs, DPOs, Assistants Commissioners and other members of the institutions were checking brick kilns daily and on violation, strict legal action was being taken against the owners of brick kilns, he added.
Zaeem said that under the Ordinance, sealing of brick kiln, fine of 50,000 to 500,000 rupees and six months imprisonment could be awarded.
He told the media that Labour & Human Resource department had set up Help line 0800-55444 for registering complaints of child labour at brick kilns and strict action was being taken.
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