Illinois Child Labor Law 820 ILCS 205/1 et seq.

Illinois Department of Labor

Fair Labor Standards Division

Protects minors ONLY until their 16th birthday

• The Fair Labor Standards Act, federal law, continues to protect minors until the age of 18 years from certain hazardous occupations if the employer is covered by the Act.

Three basic areas of protection

• Certifies the age of the worker

• Restricts the hours of work allowed

• Prohibits certain types of work

Employment and Age Certificates

• Both are issued by the local school or the Regional Office of Education

• Employment Certificates (work permits) issued for those under 16 years of age and expire annually

• Age Certificates for ages 16 to 20 years and valid for the term of employment

Procedure for securing certificate:

Minor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must appear at the school

Documents Required:

1. Letter of intent to employ from the employer stating the type of work and hours to be worked.

2. Birth certificate

3. Physical fitness examination current within one year

4. Principal’s statement, if work is during the school year, verifying that the minor is in good academic standing.

Hours of work restrictions:

• Not before 7:00 AM

• Not after 7:00 PM (except June 1st through Labor Day when minor is allowed to work until 9:00 PM)

• Not more than 3 hours per day when school is in session

• Not more than 8 hours per day when school is not in session

• Not more than 24 hours per week when school is in session

Hours of work (continued):

• Not more than 48 hours per week when school is not in session

• Not more than 8 hours per day combining school and work

• Not more than six days in one week

• Scheduled meal period of at least 30 minutes required after five hours of work

Hazardous Occupations

• Work is not allowed in the 26 listed prohibited areas

• No exceptions!!!!!!!

List of hazardous occupations

• Numerous amusement facilities like bowling alleys, pool halls, exhibition parks, skating rinks, plus messenger services

• In the oiling / cleaning of machinery

• Mines and quarries

• Stone cutting or polishing

• Hazardous factory work

• Manufacturing or use of explosives

• Plants manufacturing iron or steel

• Operation of machinery used in rolling of metal stock

• In or about sawmills or lath

• Power driven woodworking machines

• Freight elevators / hoisting machines and cranes

• In spray painting, exposure to lead or its components as well as other dyes and chemicals

Hazardous Occupations cont.

• In any place that alcoholic drinks are served or sold for consumption on the premises (some exceptions allowed)

• In oil refineries• In laundry or dry cleaning• Radioactive substances• Any gas filling or service

station• In any construction work• In roofing operations• In excavating operations

• In logging operations

• Public and private utilities and related services

• Meat slaughtering, processing, and packaging

• Working on elevated surfaces

• In security positions as well as any that requires the use of carrying a firearm

• Those that involve the handling or storage of any biohazard substance

Illinois Department of Labor

• Child Labor Hotline 800-645-5784

• www.state.il.us/agency/idol/

• Questions