Work Permits

Services

The Regional Office of Education acts as an agent for the Illinois Department of Labor in the issuance of work permits for students under the age of 16.  Please find below the requirements for completing the application for a work permit.  Applications are reviewed by the Illinois Department of Labor and then issued or denied.

Requirements for Completing Work Permits

1. Statement of intention to employ signed by the prospective employer, or by someone duly authorized by him, setting forth the specific nature of the occupation in which he intends to employ the minor and the exact hours of the day and number of hours per day and days per week during which the minor shall be employed.

2. Evidence of age documented with a birth certificate, certificate of baptism, passport, or any such document that shows valid date and place of birth.

3. Social Security Card or number.

4. Statement from the physician stating that the minor is in good health and able to perform the tasks outlined in number 1.  A school physical is acceptable.  Physician's statement or school physical must be completed within the last 90 days.

5. Parental approval of the minor's employment is required as part of the work permit application process and shall be provided by the accompanying parent who signs the application form in the presence of the Regional Superintendent or by the designee.  Parents may also attach a signed statement authorizing such employment, but this does not preclude the requirement that the parent accompanying the minor sign the application form as prescribed.

Links to all forms can be found at the bottom of this page.  Please contact your local Regional Office of Education if you have any questions regarding the process for work permit application and issuance.

HOURS OF WORK

No minor under 16 years of age shall be employed, permitted, or suffered work in any gainful occupation mentioned in Section 1 of this Act for more than 6 consecutive days in any one week, or more than 48 hours in any one week, 24 hours in any one week when school is in session, or more than 8 hours in any one day, or be so employed, permitted or suffered to work between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., except during the period June 1 to Labor Day, between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. The hours of work of minors under the age of 16 years employed outside of school hours shall not exceed 3 a day on days when school is in session nor shall be the combined hours of work outside and in school exceed a total of 8 a day. 

MEAL PERIOD

"No minor under 16 years of age shall be employed, or permitted to work in any gainful occupation mentioned in Section 1 of this Act for more than 5 hours continuously without an interval or at least 30 minutes for meal period, and no period of less than 30 minutes shall be deemed to interrupt a continuous period of work.'"

HAZARDOUS OCCUPATIONS (EXCERPTS) 

No minor under the age of 16 years of age shall be employed, permitted or suffered to work:

“In about or in connection with any public messenger or delivery service, bowling alley, pool room, billiard room, skating rink, exhibition park or place of amusement, garage, filling station or service station, or as a bellboy in any hotel or rooming house or about or in connection with power-driven machinery.'"

“In any place or establishment in which intoxicating alcoholic liquors are served or sold for consumption on the premises, or in which such liquors are manufactured or bottled.''

For further information contact Illinois Department of Labor, 160 North LaSalle Street, Suite C - 1300, Chicago, Illinois 60601 (800) 645-5784 or (312) 793-2804

Federal Child Labor Laws 

(As provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act - Section 3, 52 Stat. 1060, as amended; 29 U.S.C. 203).

14 AND 15-YEAR-OLD MINORS MAY BE EMPLOYED BUT ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING  EMPLOYED IN THE FOLLOWING: 

*During school hours, except as provided for under the Work Experience and Career Exploration Program.  

*Before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. except 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day (time depends on local standards). 

*More than 3 Hours a day on school days. 

*More than 18 hours a week in school weeks.  

*More than 8 hours a day on non-school days.  

*More than 40 hours a week in nonschool weeks.

14 AND 15-YEAR-OLD MINORS MAY NOT BE EMPLOYED IN: 

*Any manufacturing occupation.  

*Any mining occupation. 

*Processing occupations. 

*Occupations requiring the performance of any duties in workrooms or workplaces where goods are manufactured, mined, or otherwise processed. 

*Public messenger service. 

*Operation or tending or hoisting apparatus or of any power-driven machinery.  

*Any occupations found and declared to be hazardous. 

*Occupations in connection with transportation, warehousing and storage, communications, public utilities, and construction.

Any of the following occupations in a retail, food service, or gasoline service establishment: Cooking (except at soda fountains, lunch counters, snack bars, or cafeteria serving counters) and baking; Occupations which involve operating, setting up, adjusting, cleaning, oiling, or repairing power-driven food slicers and grinders, food choppers and cutters and bakery-type mixers. Work in freezers and meat coolers and all work in preparation of meats for sale (except wrapping, sealing, labeling, weighing, pricing and stocking when performed in other areas); Loading and unloading goods to and from trucks, railroad cars or conveyors.

Click the Link below for more Information

U. S. Dept. of Labor, Youth Rules Website

 

Required Forms for Work Permit

Application for Work Permit - Ages 14 and 15 *Age exceptions apply in certain categories

Statement of Intention to Employ

Principal Statement if employment is during the school year (IL 452-0091).

Certificate of Physical Fitness (IL  452-0099)

Copy of Birth Certificate

Illinois Department of Labor Employment certificate (Form E) filled out at  local Regional Office of Education