Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Nepal (Ratification: 1997)

Article 8 of the Convention. Artistic performances. The Committee previously noted that children under the age of 14 years participate in artistic performances and such activities are regulated by the Education Directives 2068 (2012) of the Ministry of Education. For participation of children in any artistic performance listed under the Education Directives, outside school, approval has to be sought from the District Education Office. It noted that a draft Children’s Act which contains provisions on children’s participation in artistic performances is being adopted.

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that the Act relating to Children, 2018 has been adopted. It notes that section 14 of this Act recognizes children’s (persons under 18 years) right to participate in sports, entertainment and cultural activities while section 66(m) provides for penalties for engaging a child in a magic or circus shows. Noting that the participation of children for artistic performance requires the approval of the District Education Office, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate whether such permission is granted on the basis of individual permits and whether such permits limit the number of hours of, and prescribe the conditions for, such authorized work, in conformity with Article 8 of the Convention. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide a copy of the Education Directives 2068 or any other regulation that regulates the participation of children in artistic performances.