KATHMANDU: Government has passed the master plan for prevention of child labour, which prohibits children from working in all sectors.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers passed the master plan on Sunday.

As per the plan, use of children as domestic helpers, porters, farm workers, in collection and trafficking of narcotic drugs, in carpet weaving, embroidery and hosiery, in brick kilns, mining sector, entertainment business (including sexual abuse), and transport sector has been prohibited.

Similarly, use of child labour has been banned in foreign employment sector, mechanical and chemical industries, construction sector, hotels and restaurants, as beggars, street vendors and medicinal herbs collectors.

All these forms of child labour have been declared serious crime and would draw maximum penalty in case of non-compliance.

The master plan has also brought the strategy of reviewing policy, laws and institutions related to prevention of child labour, of creating a strong and conducive environment through programmes aimed at enhancing the capacity of stakeholders working in the child labour prohibition sector, and of regular monitoring, search and rescue of victims of child labour, as well as rehabilitating them in society through targeted programmes.

The master plan has provisions to implement programmes for the prevention of child labour and provide required support to the families of children at risk of child labour. It also includes strategy of establishing collaboration, coordination and networking among the stakeholders.

The plan has named the federal government, province government, local level, civil society, non-government organisations, media and IT sectors, business and private sectors, and trade unions as responsible bodies to work for the prevention of child labour in the country.

The main goal of the master plan is to put an end to all forms of child labour in Nepal. It has also set the target of banishing the exploitative and worst form of child labour by 2022 and all types of child labour by 2025.

Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Gokarna Bista, had taken the initiative for passing the master plan.