The object of the Act is to prohibit the engagement of children in certain employments and to regulate the conditions of work of children in certain other employments.

Sec.3 states that no child shall be employed or permitted to work in any of the occupations set forth in Part A of the Schedule or in any workshop wherein any of the processes set forth in Part B of the Schedule is carried on.

The employment of children within the match factories directly connected with the manufacturing process upto final production of match sticks or fireworks should not at all be permitted. Children can, therefore, be employed in the process of packing, but packing should be done in an area away from the place of manufacture to avoid exposure to accident.

A register is to be maintained by the occupier which should contain the name & date of birth of every child, hours & periods of work and intervals of rest, the nature of work & such other particulars as may be prescribed.

1)	Whoever employs any child to work in contravention of the provisions of Sec.3 shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to one year or with fine which shall not be less than ten thousand rupees but which may extend to twenty thousand rupees or with both.
2)	Whoever, having been convicted of an offence u/s.3, commits a like offence afterwards, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 6 months but which may extend to 2 years.
3)	Whoever – (a) fails to give notice as required by sec.9 or (b) fails to maintain a register as required by sec.11 or makes any false entry in any such register; or (c) fails to display a notice containing an abstract of sec.3 and this section as required by sec.12, or (d) fails to comply with or contravenes any other provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; Shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to Rs.10,000/- or with both.