Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation today creating a Worker Protection Unit within the Office of the Attorney General which will protect Illinois workers from wage theft and other unlawful employment practices. “When Illinoisans put in a hard day’s work, they deserve to be compensated fairly and treated with dignity, and this new Worker Protection Unit will make sure of it,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Attorney General Raoul and Leader Hoffman have led the charge to protect workers’ rights, and I’m proud to sign this legislation that ensures the state of Illinois expeditiously prosecutes employers violating state labor laws. Our hardworking residents deserve nothing less.”
The new unit law gives the Attorney General’s office the express authority to investigate and file suit against violators of the Prevailing Wage Act, the Employee Classification Act, the Minimum Wage Law, the Day and Temporary Labor Services Act and the Wage Payment and Collection Act. The new Worker Protection Unit will work collaboratively with the Illinois Department of Labor to detect unlawful conduct but may also take direct legal action against widespread and pervasive wage payment violations and unfair labor practices. It also creates the Worker Protection Unit Task Force within the Office of the Illinois Attorney General to facilitate information sharing and collaboration between local and state prosecutors and regulators as well as promote a statewide outreach and enforcement effort targeting businesses that violate the state’s worker protection laws.
The task force will report on its work to the governor and General Assembly by December 1, 2020. Senate Bill 161 takes effect on January 1, 2020. “Illinois’ diverse workforce is one of our most valuable assets, and I have long been committed to fighting unlawful employment practices, such as businesses stealing wages from and misclassifying their employees to undercut legal protections for workers. These practices harm workers, law-abiding businesses, and the Illinois economy,” said Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
“I appreciate Governor Pritzker signing this legislation to establish the Worker Protection Unit within the Attorney General’s office, and I would also like to thank Representative Hoffman and Senator Curran for partnering with my office to pass Senate Bill 161, which gives my office additional authority to protect the rights of hardworking Illinoisans.” “Good, high-wage jobs are the backbone of a stable community. Businesses that step on their workers’ rights to widen their margins only weaken Illinois,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville). “I applaud the governor for signing this legislation into law, reaffirming that Illinois workers deserve fair pay, safe working conditions and freedom from workplace discrimination.” In 2018, Gov. Rauner vetoed substantially similar legislation – SB 193 in the 100th General Assembly – sponsored by then-Sen. Kwame Raoul and Rep. Jay Hoffman.