Illinois bucks the trend and strengthens its child labor laws

Jane Flanagan, Director of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL), joined the Amerca’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss Illinois's recent amendment to its child labor laws that will strengthen its regulations. She also spoke about enforcing regulations and a change to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2023. 

Unlike other states that weakened their child labor laws, Illinois recently amended and modernized its child labor law. State Bill 3646 provides a structure for minors to engage in safe, age-appropriate work while protecting their health and access to education. Flanagan discussed the new regulations and updated standards for working conditions the bill established, like limiting work hours and updating the list of jobs minors are allowed to hold. 

Next, Flanagan spoke about one of the biggest challenges for labor enforcement agencies - workers not filing complaints. Often, workers who experience the worst working conditions may not be unaware they can file a complaint with the IDOL or may be uncomfortable going to the government for fear of retaliation. Flanagan outlined several steps the IDOL has implemented to address the awareness gap, including bilingual staff to accommodate language barriers. 

Finally, Flanagan discussed equal pay and pay transparency. Under the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, private employers in the state with 100 or more employees are required to report certain employee wage and demographic information to IDOL in order to receive an Equal Pay Registration Certificate. Flanagan discussed the amendment to the Equal Pay Act that will go into effect on Jan. 1, and the regulation changes it will bring. Until the new amendment goes into effect, she explained the current steps a worker should take if they suspect their employer is paying them differently than their co-workers, 

Listen to the show above to hear more from Flanagan.