LABOUR AND INDUSTRIAL LAWS

AN ANALYSIS OF CHILD LABOUR IN THE

FIREWORKS INDUSTRIES OF SIVAKASI

Submitted By
S. Sadhana
20020
 •The Factories Act of 1948

•The Mines Act of 1952.

•The Child Labour

(Prohibition and Regulation)
Act of 1986

• The Juvenile Justice (Care

and Protection) of Children
Act of 2000

•The Right of Children to Free

and Compulsory Education
Act of 2009

Child labour laws in India

THE FIREWORKS
INDUSTRIES OF
SIVAKASI
•Sivakasi famous for fireworks,
matchbox, printing press
•World renowned manufacturer of
firework
•Hides a grim reality, nearly 45,000
children were employed
•In the fireworks industries, below the
age
•Of 14
• Largest concentration of child
Labourers.
•While industrial development grew,
gained notoriety for
•Exploiting children
•Though child labour is rare now, there
are news of children
•Getting rescued.
HISTORY OF CHILD
LABOUR IN SIVAKASI
• Throughout 1980s until early 2000, Sivakasi filled
with child workers, working for 150/day.
• between ages of 3 and 15
• work in dingy places for 15 hours
• no opportunities for pursuing education
• Early death, diagnosed with asthma and
tuberculosis, explosions in factories
 ERADICATION OF CHILD LABOUR IN SIVAKASI

(insights from PESO official and media reporter)

International attention due to activities of Christian missionaries
Existence of several regulatory mechanisms
Surprise inspections
Implementation of National Child Labour Project

(interview with former child labourer now lawyer)

Rapid decline attributed to change in parents’ attitude
Constant intervention by the government
Rescued children are rehabilitated, provided Rs.500/month, aided till they receive a
degree.
DOES CHILD LABOUR STILL
EXIST IN SIVAKASI?

• According to people interviewed, bonded child labour no

longer exists. But due to pandemic, there has been a slight
rise in children working full time in factories.
• Children above 14 years work at these fireworks industries
to earn money for themselves and not to get their families
out of poverty. Teenagers from both the city and nearby
villages can be found working during holidays. They get
paid Rs. 200 per day and work from 9 AM to 5 PM.
• Several cases of illegal manufacturing of explosives at
home, difficult to identify and remove.
• Success of Sivakasi is due to efforts by the government
along with awareness and cooperation amongst people of
Sivakasi
• Case: M.C.Mehta v. State of Tamil Nadu (1996)