New laws soon to check backgrounds of child-related workers

by Manjula Fernando

The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has proposed new laws for background checks on child-related workers in the country to protect children and young adults.

The new ‘Working with Children Act’ will be formulated by the NCPA. A Cabinet paper seeking approval for the new law has been already presented to the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs, NCPA Chairperson Anoma Dissanayake said.

This paper will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers shortly.

If the law is approved, any employee who has ‘direct unsupervised access’ to children will have to, first apply for a background check and clearance certificate before his or her recruitment to any service, including voluntary work.