Eight ministries, including the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Labor and Social Security, sent out a notice recently calling to carry out the Regulation on Banning Child Labor and to establish an employee registration and verification system. The notice also demands the crack down on employers who hire child labor.

According to the notice, each unit must verify employees' identity cards and register all information on the employees. The information includes the employee's name, sex, native place, date of birth, and the number of their ID card and the number of the individual labor contract. The unit also has to properly manage the registration information of the employee and be ready for the supervision and verification from relevant departments. Otherwise, the employer will be punished by the administrative department of labor and social security.

These eight ministries also forbid any agency for employment and individual to recommend a minor for any post. The legal rights of injured child labor should be protected and the one-time-compensation for injured child labor should be properly carried out. Relevant departments should approach management on art and athletic units, which employ art and literature workers and athletes under 16 years old. Government should clear the management authority and division of responsibility, and practice the labor reserve system and raise the qualification of each laborer.

The notice clarifies the subject of employing child labor and eliminates labor that doesn't fall into this category such as family work and housework a minor has to do. The notice forbids child labor in all units that include government offices, social organizations, enterprises, public institutions, community-run institutions and small-scale individually-owned business.

The newly-made Regulation on Banning Child Labor has been in force since December 1, 2002. The regulation is of great importance for the rectification of the market economy, protection of teenager's mental and physical health and protection of children's legal rights.

(China.org.cn by Wu Nanlan, May 19, 2003)