Correct Option
The correct option is14 and 18 years
Explanation
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016 amended the original 1986 Act to strengthen protections for children and align labor laws with the Right to Education Act, 2009. A significant addition in this amendment was the legal classification of "adolescents."
Detailed Analysis
- Definition of Adolescent: The 2016 Amendment defines an "adolescent" as a person who has completed his 14th year of age but has not completed his 18th year.
- Legal Implication:
- Children (Below 14 years): Employment is prohibited in all occupations and processes, with exceptions for family enterprises and the audio-visual entertainment industry.
- Adolescents (14 to 18 years): Employment is prohibited specifically in hazardous occupations and processes (e.g., mining, explosives, and hazardous industries defined under the Factories Act). They are permitted to work in non-hazardous sectors subject to regulation.
Key Takeaway: Under the 2016 Amendment, the age bracket for an adolescent is 14 to 18 years, distinguishing them from children (under 14) for the purpose of regulating hazardous labor.