CHAPTER 2 - REPORT OF THE COMPLAINTS AND INQUIRIES WORKING GROUP The Commission was also concerned about the breach of provisions in laws that protect children such as: - Section 2(1) of the Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966 which bars children from being involved in work except in the four areas stipulated in Sections 2(2) and 2(3); and - Section 32 of the Child Act 2001, which makes it an offence to allow children to be on the street, premises or any place for the purpose of receiving alms, whether or not there is an offer to sell goods. On 9 May, the Commission visited the school together with representatives of the Kedah Social Welfare Department, Education Department, Islamic Affairs Department and Department of Islamic Development. The Commission found that: • The Social Welfare Department had, on several occasions, picked up the children while they were selling or begging. However, action could not be taken against the school management because parents said they had given consent for the children to be involved in activities arranged by the school. • Although the school functions as a tahfiz school, it is not registered with either the Kedah Islamic Affairs Department or Education Department. Instead it is registered with the Registrar of Companies. • The school does not emphasise formal education. Its objective is to train the children to be involved in business. The children are given basic education, but do not have the opportunity to sit public examinations. During the visit, the Commission and other agencies advised the school management to comply with the law, especially Section 32 of the Child Act 2001. Following the visit, the Commission wrote to the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development with an account of the findings of the visit, as well as recommending that strict action be taken to ensure the children are not being exploited. (h) Rights of Migrant Workers Between January and August, the Commission received 25 complaints relating to salary, compensation for accidents at work, and delays in the renewal of work permits of migrant workers. Some cases concerned domestic helpers, who were allegedly tortured and imprisoned by their employer. This information was relayed to the police and Labour Department, and the CIWG will monitor the cases to ensure that action is taken. 50