Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya today clarified that the Child Labour Amendment Act completely prohibits employment of a child below 14 years in any family enterprise with the exception of help. Allaying fears that the Amendment would legalise child labour being done in homes, the Minister stressed that the amendment only permits 'help' and not 'employment' and that too after school hours.<br/><br/> Briefing media in New Delhi, he said such family enterprises should not be any hazardous occupation or process. Mr Dattatreya said, there is complete ban on employment of child below 14 years in all occupations and processes. <br/><br/>The Minister asserted that the Amendment Act clearly seeks to protect Right to Education of children below 14 years by remedying the defective provisions of the original Act of 1986. He also said that protection to adolescents of 14 to 18 years is being given for the first time in this Act. Mr Dattatreya said stricter punishment for employers for violation of the Act has been proposed. He expressed happiness that International Labour Organisation and UNICEF have welcomed the new Act.