Maharashtra Notifies Child Labour Reforms; Child Artist Safeguards, Rehabilitation Fund and Task Forces Introduced

On 23 June 2026, the Government of Maharashtra notified the Maharashtra Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025. These rules enhance the existing regulatory regime by laying down comprehensive provisions pertaining to prevention of child labour, regulation of permitted activities of children, safety of adolescents at work, inspection and supervision, rescue and rehabilitation of children/adolescents, functioning of the Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund, and enhanced compliance obligations for employers and other stakeholders.

Key Highlights:

1. The Rules have been framed under Section 18 of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 and revise the Maharashtra Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Rules, 1997

2. The Rules rename the parent Rules by replacing “Child Labour” with “Child and Adolescent Labour.”

3. The amendment Rules introduce new definitions including:

   • “Fund” refers to the Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund created under Section 14B of the Act;

   • “Municipality” refers to the institution of self-government constituted under Article 243Q of the Constitution; and

   • “Panchayat” refers to the Panchayat established under Article 243B of the Constitution.

4. The new Rule 2A requires the State Government to undertake comprehensive awareness and prevention measures that will consist of:

   1. Public awareness programs using print media, electronic media, digital media, and traditional media;

   2. Development and promotion of accessible mechanisms for reporting violations relating to employment of children and adolescents.;

   3. Display of provisions of the act in public places, offices of government, railway stations, Metro and Mono rail stations, bus stands, airports, ports, markets, shopping centres, hospitals, educational institutions, and official website of the government;

   4. Child labour awareness in school syllabus and training program for labour officers, police officials, judiciary, teachers, other staekholders ; and

   5. Promotion of rescue, rehabilitation, mainstream education and skill development of rescued children and adolescents.

5. The New Rule 2B sets out the conditions under which a child is permitted to help his/her family or business venture within the strict confines of:

   • No work during school hours or between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.;

   • Maximum engagement of three hours per day (excluding rest);

   • No hazardous occupation or process;

   • No remunerative work in any manufacturing, production, supply or retail chain;

   • No substitution of adult or adolescent labour; and

   • No adverse impact on the child’s education, health or overall development.

   • Assistance shall be permitted only where the family is the occupier of the family enterprise; and

   • Such assistance should not interfere with school attendance, homework or other educational activities

6. The Rules clarify the meaning of “family” for the purpose of family assistance provisions. It includes only:

   • Biological brother or sister of the child;

   • Brother or sister through lawful adoption by the child’s parents; and

   • Biological brother or sister of the child’s parents.

7. In case of a school-going child being absent for 30 consecutive days without notice, the Principal or Headmaster is required to report such absence to the designated nodal officer.

8. Rule 2C is introduced which lays down various safety measures for involving children as artists in audiovisual productions and any other artistic activity approved by the Government.

9. The artistic activities referred to in the Rules may be cinema, documentary films, television programs, quiz programs, reality programs, talent programs, radio programs, drama series, show anchoring, sports programs or training, and other artistic activities approved by the Government.

10. Prior permission of the District Magistrate is required before engaging children in such activities.

11. Street performances for monetary gain are excluded from the permitted category of artistic activities.

12. No child shall be made to participate in any audio-visual, sports or informal entertainment activity against his/her will and consent.

13. The producers of any audio-visual production or organisers of any commercial event involving participation of children shall take prior permission from the District Magistrate along with the following information:

    • Undertaking in Prescribed Form A-1;

    • Information on Participating Children;

    • Consent of Parents/Guardians;

    • Information on Supervisors for Child Safety; and

    • Assurance of compliance with child protection norms.

14. The following safeguards have been prescribed for child artists:

    • Maximum work hours of five hours per day and three hours consecutively without rest;

    • Continuity of education;

    • One responsible person appointed for every five children;

    • A minimum of 20% of the earnings of the child being deposited in a fixed deposit account in the name of the child; payable upon attaining majority.

    • Prohibition on use of hazardous cosmetic products; and

    • Screening of films and television programmes involving child participation must carry a disclaimer confirming that appropriate measures were taken to prevent abuse, neglect or exploitation of the child during the shooting process..

    • No child shall work continuously for more than 27 days.

15. The Rules amend the relevant provisions regarding working hours of adolescents in such a way that adolescents are not allowed to work for more than the prescribed hours of work under the relevant labor law of the concerned establishment.

16. The process of determining the age of the adolescent has been simplified. The priorities should be as follows:

    • Aadhaar card;

    • Birth Certificate from the Municipality or Panchayat;

    • School or matriculation certificate; and

    • Age determination through a medical test

17. The Rules replace the term “child” with “adolescent” in the stated provisions that relate to adolescent employment.

18. The new clauses provide for the obligations of Labour Inspectors, such as the adherence to the State’s inspection procedures, regular inspections, quarterly reporting and maintenance of electronic records relating to:

    • Children and adolescents found working in contravention of the Act;

    • Compounded offences;

    • Compounding amounts imposed and recovered; and

    • Rehabilitation measures undertaken.

19. The newly added Chapter V introduces detailed duties of the District Magistrate such as:

    • Appointment of nodal officers;

    • Constitution of a District Task Force consisting of labour authorities, police, child welfare authorities, education officials, legal services representatives and NGOs;

    • The Task Force shall include representatives from the Special Juvenile Police Unit, District Anti-Trafficking Unit, District Child Protection Officer, District Education Officer, Child Welfare Committee and other notified members:

    • Quarterly meetings for planning rescue operations; and

    • Rescue and rehabilitation of children and adolescents in coordination with relevant welfare schemes and laws.

20. The Rules operationalise the Child and Adolescent Labour Rehabilitation Fund, providing for:

    • Opening of bank accounts for the rescued children and adolescents;

    • Periodic transfer of accrued interest;

    • Interest accrued on the proportionate amount shall be transferred electronically every six months, and the Inspector shall submit an annual report to the State Government regarding such transfers.

    • Release of the accumulated amount when the child reaches 18 years of age; and

    • Maintaining separate cash books for the said fund by the Labour Offices.

21. These Rules expand the category of people who can lodge complaints about child labour crimes to include policemen, labour officers, teachers, members of School Management Committees, Child Protection Committees, Panchayats, Municipalities and recognized non-governmental organizations.

22. The process of compoundable offence has been prescribed in detail where either first-time offenders or their parents/guardians have to pay the prescribed compoundable amount before the District Magistrate, otherwise, the normal prosecution process will be continued.

23. New Form A-1 has been introduced which requires producers of audio-visual media and organizers of commercial events involving child artistes to submit an undertaking on their compliance with the Act and child protection measures.

24. Another form, Form B has also been substituted to prescribe the revised Register of Adolescents required to be maintained under Rule 5(1).

25. The amendments are expected to improve conditions, mechanism of child labour in Maharashtra, rehabilitation outcomes, and reinforce protection of children and adolescents from exploitative labour.

[Maharashtra Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) (Amendment) Rules, 2025, published on 23-6-2026]