SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois reformed its child labor laws last week, and politicians across the state are celebrating the new protection for workers younger than 18.
The new law aims to rebalance the state’s labor laws with more consideration for their health and education. This includes a requirement including the minor’s school schedule with the work permit, and laying out the certification procedures for minors without birth certificates and minors experiencing homelessness. Additionally the law adds to the list of more jobs a minor can’t hold.
The governor, who signed the bill into law Tuesday, said in a news release the new framework protects minors from predatory employers.
“Minors should be able to experience safe, age-appropriate work in an educational setting, and I’m proud of the added protections my administration and the General Assembly advanced through this bill,” Governor JB Pritzker said.
Labor leaders note Illinois’s new protections are in contrast to other states like Arkansas, which removed a requirement of certifying the age for 14 and 15-year-old workers last year and New Hampshire and New Jersey loosening the hours minors can work.
“When states allow children as young as 14 to be put in hazardous environments and work nearly full time in industrial settings during the school year, we know that comes at the cost of that young person’s future,” Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea said. “This legislation is taking a significant step forward to ensure Illinois’ child labor laws balance both the educational and financial needs of young workers.”
Additionally, in the new law, employers face stiffer fines from the Illinois Department of Labor to help enforce the law, with penalties multiplying for cases where a minor gets injured, ill or dies. The new rule also requires employers to give notice to the minor’s schools of any injuries or deaths.
State leaders said youth workers need the extra protections as they remain one of the most vulnerable groups in the workforce.
“These updated, robust, and thorough rules will help protect child workers from dangerous jobs and exploitation in the workplace,” Illinois Department of Labor Director Jane Flanagan said. “They also promote enforcement by prohibiting retaliation against individuals who report child labor situations that may be unsafe or illegal.”
The new child labor regulations go into effect January 1.
Post a Comment