A law was passed banning the employment of children as domestic servants or servants or in dhabas (roadside eateries), restaurants, hotels, motels, teashops, resorts, spas or in other recreational centers, effective from 10 October 2006.

Indian and international groups and media have lauded the Indian government for extending a ban on child labour to include the employment of children as domestic servants or in the hospitality sector, including roadside eateries, hotels and resorts, officials said Wednesday.

The government - which earlier banned the employment of children under 14 in factories, mines as well as other hazardous jobs - later also prohibited government workers from employing children as domestic help.

"With this notification, the government has extended these restrictions to everyone," a statement issued by the Labour Ministry said of the latest restrictions.

The extended ban, which also applies to children under 14, is to be implemented October 10, said the ministry, which issued the decision to widen the law on Tuesday.

Spas, motels and other recreational centres have also been barred from employing children.

The penalty for flouting the law is a jail term ranging from three months to two years with or without a fine of up to 20,000 rupees (430 dollars), the Times of India reported. The ban was imposed after a recommendation by the Technical Advisory Committee on Child Labour, which said children in these industries were made to work long hours and undertake hazardous activities that were severely affecting their health and psyches.

"The committee had said the children employed in roadside eateries and highway food stalls were the most vulnerable lot and were easy prey to sex and drug abuse as they came in contact with all kinds of people," the Labour Ministry said.

According to the World Bank, India has about 44 million child labourers, the largest child workforce in the world.

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