The provincial government of eastern China's Zhejiang province issued a regulation Tuesday amid a crackdown on child labor, Xinhua news agency reports.

The regulation defines child labor as using minors under the age of 16 for any kind of paid labor in production or sales venues under the guise of work-study, practice, or skill training.

Employers found to be using child laborers will be fined 5,000 yuan a month, or 2,500 yuan per fortnight, for each child laborer.

Employers exploiting child laborers in toxic working environments will receive harsher punishments under the regulation.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)