Police have decided to search homes, shops and businesses in the Western Province from today to look into the use of children under the age of 16 in child labour.
Police Media Spokesman Senior DIG Attorney-at-Law Ajith Rohana stated that this operation is being launched based on the findings of the investigation into the death of a maid at the house of former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen.
He also said that according to the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, the age of majority is 18 years, but in our country there are legal opportunities to employ persons over 16 years of age in child labouring. However, it is an offense before the law to abuse children in the service of slavery, he said, adding that in this operation, children over the age of 16 but under the age of 18 who are engaged in slave labour will be specially investigated.
He further stated that it is an offense under the criminal law of the country if children have been subjected to cruelty and have been used as slave labour before reaching the age of majority.
