Under aged children aspiring to venture into show business as actors, musicians or singers are required to get prior approval from Labour Department director-general.

Deputy Human Resource Minister Maznah Mazlan said they need to get approval and comply with the regulations stipulated under the Children and Young Persons (Employment) (Amendment) Bill 2010 to prevent them from being exploited to an extent that it may affect their studies.

Through these amendments, those who wished to be involved in the show business need to comply with certain procedures that come with guidelines and regulations.

"Without the approval of the Labour Department director-general, they cannot be employed in the entertainment sector," she said when winding up debate on the bill at the Dewan Negara sitting today.

Maznah said among regulations that must be adhered to were would be if they worked for six days, these children should be given an off day, and if they worked for three hours continuously, they must be given a break for at least 30 minutes.

"Apart from that, they cannot work between 8pm and 7am, except in the entertainment programme that requires the approval of the Labour Department director-general," she said.

Through the amendments, if the children are attending school, they cannot work and attend school for more than seven hours a day.

According to the statistics issued by the Department of Statistics, there are 47,000 working children in the country and most of them were working part-time to help their families.

"The ministry views seriously the abuse of child labour. Through the Labour Department, periodical inspections are being carried out at workplaces.

"The amendment will allow children to work, but the working period is not more than seven hours a day and limited to the family business or light work," she said.

The sitting continues tomorrow.

- Bernama