Bolivia on 18 July 2014 passed a law to legalise child labour for kids from age 10. The bill was approved by Bolivian Congress in June 2014. The bill was signed into law by the Vice President of Bolivia.
Under the legislation, 10-year-olds will be able to work as long as they are under parental supervision and also attend school. It sets 12 as the minimum age for a child to work under contract. They also would have to attend school.
The bill also offers safeguards for working children like the bill sets harsher punishment of 30 years for violence against children.
Comment
The move of Bolivia is out of step with the rest of the world. As per the norms of The International Labour Organisation (ILO) children under the age of 15 should not be allowed to work, but it allowed a minimum working age of 14 for developing countries.
The lawmaker favoured the legislation by saying that the Child labour already exists in Bolivia and it’s difficult to fight it. Rather than persecute it, we want to protect the rights and guarantee the labour security of children. The lawmakers opined that there is no alternative in a society where half the population is poor.