Illinois has passed the “Child Labor Law of 2024,” which brings more stringent child labor laws to the state for minors under the age of 16.
Under the law, employers are prohibited from allowing a minor to work (subject to certain exceptions):
- more than 18 hours during a week when school is in session;
- more than 40 hours during a week when school is not in session;
- more than 8 hours in any single 24-hour period;
- between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. from Labor Day until June 1 or between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. from June 1 until Labor Day; or
- more than 3 hours per day or more than 8 hours total of work and school hours on days when school is in session.
In employing a minor, employers are required to do the following:
- obtain an employment certificate authorizing the minor to work for the employer;
- maintain the certificate on the premises where work is being performed (and keep it on file for at least 3 years after the minor stops working);
- ensure the minor is supervised by an adult 21 years of age or older while working;
- provide a meal period of at least 30 minutes when working for 5 consecutive hours or more;
- post in a conspicuous place where minors are employed to work the requirements of the law
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2025.
