Illinois Reminds Young Job Seekers and Employers of Safety Guidelines

Child Labor Law Provides Protections for Children Younger than 16

“Many young teenagers across the state will start looking for summer jobs and we want to make sure they are aware of labor laws that require adequate protections in workplace,” said Dir. Costigan. “Employers, parents and caregivers should familiarize themselves with the law’s requirements to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for children.”

Click here (pdf) for a copy of the press release.

Prevailing Wage Rates dating back to 2004 are now available on the Illinois Department of Labor website

IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE INFORMATION MORE READILY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR will now POST archived prevailing wage rates FROM 2004 on the Department’s website effective April 27, 2012. Previously, interested parties were required to submit a FOIA request to access prevailing wage rates from previous years.  The Department’s online database will allow workers and employers to easily access the prevailing wage rates from previous years.  Prevailing wage rates apply to laborers, workers and mechanics employed on PUBLIC WORKS construction projects.

Prevailing Wage Rates History

Illinois Marks Workers’ Memorial Day

Department of Labor Joins Communities Statewide to Remember Fallen Workers by participating in events commemorating Workers’ Memorial Day in Alton, Bloomington, Decatur, Rockford, Peoria, Quad Cities and Springfield.

Click here (pdf) for a copy of the press release.

Illinois Department of Labor Officials conduct outreach in Naperville on the Prevailing Wage

See Fox Valley Labor News’ coverage click here.

Equal Pay for Equal Work -- It's the Law

The Illinois Department of Labor has enforced the state's Equal Pay Act since 2004, handling nearly 600 cases and recovering more than half a million dollars in wages owed to workers who had not received equal pay for equal work.

If you feel you have not received equal pay for doing the same work, contact the Department on its Equal Pay Hotline: 1-866-EPA-IDOL (372-4365). The Department receives an average of 1500 calls annually on the Department's Hotline with questions about unpaid wages.

To draw attention to the wage gap that persists between men and women in the workforce, Department officials joined hundreds of people on April 17 to mark national Equal Pay Day at a rally in Daley Center Plaza, Chicago.  The date marks how far into the current year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year.  Governor Pat Quinn proclaimed April 17 as Equal Pay Day in Illinois to increase awareness of the state’s equal pay law and to underscore the importance of pay equity between men and women who do the same work.

Illinois Department of Labor Director Costigan Statement on the Passing of Mark Ayers

CHICAGO–April 13, 2012. Illinois Department of Labor Director Joseph Costigan released a statement today regarding the passing of Mark Ayers, President of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO.

Click here (pdf) for a copy of the press release.

OSHA Revises Hazard Communication Standard

OSHA has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).

The revisions include: 1) revised criteria for classification of chemical hazards; 2) revised labeling provisions that include requirements for use of standardized signal words, pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements; 3) a specified format for safety data sheets; and 4) related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard, and requirements for employee training on labels and safety data sheets. OSHA is also modifying provisions of other standards, including standards for flammable and combustible liquids, process safety management, and most substance-specific health standards, to ensure consistency with the modified Hazard Communication Standard requirements.

For more information, please see:

Final rule: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/GHSfinal-rule.pdf

OSHA’s Hazard Communication Safety and Health Topics Page: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/index.html

OSHA News Release: Click here

State Honors Occupational Safety and Health Safety Administrator with Governor’s Award

Department Recognizes Former Administrator of Region V Michael Connors at Downstate Illinois Occupational Safety and Health (DIOSH) Day in Peoria.

SPRINGFIELD —March 5, 2012. The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) today recognized Michael Connors for his contributions towards ensuring the health and safety of Illinois workers for nearly four decades. The first Governor’s Occupational Safety and Health Award was presented to Mr. Connors on Feb. 29 at the Downstate Illinois Occupational Safety and Health (DIOSH) Day in Peoria.

Click here for more information about the Award.

Illinois Labor Laws Update as of Jan 1, 2012

Changes to Illinois’ Equal Pay Act effective Jan 1, 2012

Department issues Advisory Notice for Employers Statewide

Effective January 1, 2012, the state’s Equal Pay Act will further protect workers who file complaints of pay inequity with the Department from interference, discharge and discrimination by increasing the maximum penalty from $2,500 to $5,000.
Click here to learn more.



Changes to Illinois’ Prevailing Wage Act effective Jan 1, 2012

Department issues Prevailing Wage Advisory Notice for Contractors, Municipalities Statewide; Reminds Public Bodies of Prevailing Wage Requirements

On January 1, 2012, a new amendment to the Prevailing Wage Act will go into effect, providing stricter certified payroll record reporting requirements, increasing penalties for willful violations, and expanding law enforcement access to records. For more information, click here.

Project Labor Agreement Reporting

All agencies that enter into project labor agreements are required to submit quarterly reports to the Illinois Department of Labor regarding the number of minorities and females employed under all agreements. The first submission is due by April 30, 2012 for the January 2012-March 2012 quarter.

Click here (pdf) for a copy of the reporting form. (or rtf format)

Workers’ Compensation Collective Bargaining Pilot Program

The Department of Labor is soliciting qualified parties to participate in the Workers’ Compensation Collective Bargaining Pilot Program.

Click here for more information about the Workers’ Compensation Pilot Program.

OSHA issues videos on construction hazards

The videos, available in English and Spanish, cover the following topics: falls, sprains and strains, struck-by accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, and excavation.

Each video presents a worksite incident based on actual accidents that resulted in worker injury or death, followed by a summary of corrective actions for preventing these types of accidents. Most are animated and are about two to four minutes long.

Videos in English: http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction.html
Videos in Spanish: http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction_sp.html
OSHA News Release. Click here to see the news release.

Construction Apprenticeship Report Available Now!

Under the recently enacted State Construction Minority and Female Building Trades Act, all construction apprenticeship programs in Illinois are required to submit a report to the Illinois Department of Labor concerning the race, gender, ethnicity and national origin of apprentices participating in their programs. The Department has compiled the 2011 Construction Apprenticeship Report, which summarizes the demographic trends of the data received.

Click here for the Construction Apprenticeship Report

ADDRESS CHANGED NOTIFICATION:

The Department of Labor Springfield Office relocated.  As of November 1, 2010, all correspondence should be sent to the new location:

Department of Labor
900 South Spring Street
Springfield, IL 62704

Illinois State Plan News

OSHA Assistant Secretary Joins Illinois Department of Labor to Recognize Illinois as OSHA State Plan

March 24, 2010 - The Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) welcomed U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels to celebrate Illinois’ approval as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) State Plan. Additionally, the State announced new health and safety outreach program to enhance safety and health for one million public employees.

Click here to see the press release (PDF)

Link to the video of the press conference

Click here for more information

Public Act 093-0912, Employer Notice of Change

This law amends the Juvenile Court Act of 1987. Employers may not ask if an applicant had a juvenile record expunged and that application for employment must contain specific language that states that the applicant is not obligated to disclose expunged juvenile records of arrest or conviction. PB 093-0912 (PDF file) or in web format at PB 093-0912 on Legislature Web Site.