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Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 1997 (Act No. 75 of 1997)

Regulations

BCEA Regulations on Hazardous Work by Children

13. Offences and Penalties

 

(1) Any person who requires or permits a child worker to work for them in contravention of these regulations commits an offence.

 

(2) Any person who is convicted of an offence in terms of these regulations may be sentenced to a fine or to imprisonment for a period of up to three years.

 

(3) If any person is charged with an offence in terms of which it is alleged that that person permitted a child worker to work in breach of any provision of these regulations it is an defence if that person can establish that the child—
(a) was not an employee of that person; and
(b) did not in any manner assist in carrying on or conducting the business of that person.

 

(4) Where any person is prosecuted for any offence involving the causing of injury to, or the death of, a child worker or any offence for a breach of any law regulating health and safety at work and a labour inspector is of the view that the person being prosecuted may have required or permitted a child to perform any work that constituted a worst form of child labour as contemplated in these regulations, the labour inspector must bring such information to the attention of the relevant prosecuting authority.

 

(5) If a person is convicted of a offence, including an offence in terms of subregulation (4) in terms of which that person required or permitted a child worker to perform a worst form of child labour, the court on convicting that person and determining a sentence must take into account that—
(a) that South Africa has ratified the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999;
(b) that the offence constitutes a worst form of child labour in terms of that Convention.