On July 30, 2024, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law SB 3646 (the “Act”), repealing the state’s prior child labor law and replacing it with the Child Labor Law of 2024. The stated intent of the Act is to “safeguard all working minors’ health, safety, welfare, and access to education,” and the new law “shall be interpreted to provide the greatest protection of a minor’s well-being.” The Act covers minors under 16 years of age and will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
While numerous states—including Arkansas, Ohio, and New Jersey, to name a few—have recently introduced legislation to ease restrictions on child labor, this Illinois law enhances restrictions on the employment of minors. Indeed, the Act imposes certain new civil and criminal penalties on violating employers, and it is the second child labor law signed by Pritzker. SB 1782, which went into effect in July, incorporated new restrictions for minors featured in “vlogs,” defined as content shared on an online platform in exchange for commission.
The Act applies to minors ages 15 and younger. It calls out children 13 years old and younger as those who may not be employed “in any occupation or at any worksite” unless explicitly authorized by or exempted under the Act.
The Act requires Illinois employers to obtain an employment certificate authorizing a minor’s work. To obtain a certificate, an employer must first provide the minor with a notice of intention to employ,...
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