School either has or is about to start for Illinois students. Lots of those young people will do more than homework. They’ll get a job. And if you’re under 16 years old and you get a job, you also need to get a work permit. Minors who are 14 or 15 may work in Illinois, but they must first obtain an employment certificate. Illinois’ child labor law is designed to protect the physical safety of children on the job as well as to make their education a priority. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds seeking employment need to start by getting a letter of intent to hire from their prospective employer. The letter should describe the type of work and the hours to be worked. Children 14 and 15 years of age may work up to three hours per school day and up to 24 hours per week when school is in session. The combined hours of school and work cannot exceed eight hours per day. When school is not in session – summer vacations, holidays and weekends – the restrictions are no more than eight hours per day, no more than six days per week and no more than 48 hours per week. These young people can work between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. except between June 1 and Labor Day when the evening hours can be extended to 9 p.m. Employers or anyone else with questions about the Illinois Child Labor Law can call IDOL’s Child Labor Hotline – 800-645-5784. The entire contents of the Child Labor Law can also be found at www.ilga.gov.