Mason Champions Safety for Children in the Workplace

GURNEE, Ill. – A new measure backed by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, will create new child labor protections to keep children safe and free from exploitation in the workplace, and was signed into law recently.

“Whether it’s a summer job at a grocery store or a role in Illinois’ burgeoning entertainment industry, I am always glad to see kids taking part in their community’s workforce. However, that comes with a catch: those kids have to be safe and not taken advantage of,” Mason said. “While children should be welcome to work in appropriate environments, the reality is that working at a young age can put them in unsafe situations. This measure is a big step towards preventing that.”

Senate Bill 3646 creates a new child labor law to keep children safe and free from exploitation in the workplace. In addition to reorganizing old regulations for clarity, it adds many new requirements, such as limitations on how many hours minors can work during a school week and mandating that adults are present to monitor their work at all times.

“As a mother, I would never want my kids put in a situation that wasn’t absolutely safe,” Mason said. “Keeping children safe from harm will always be a priority for me. I was proud to continue to fight for that by helping pass these new protections.”