Several federal and Illinois laws exist governing labor and employment issues in the agricultural context.  The labor and employment pages of this website are meant to provide only an overview of some of these issues.  The pages should not be understood as all-inclusive, and in all situations an attorney should be consulted regarding labor and employment law compliance.

The U.S. Department of Labor maintains a section for agricultural employers in its online compliance assistance guide.  Included in the guide are explanations of the federal laws that govern agricultural labor issues, including the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

The Illinois Department of Labor maintains a website listing the labor and employment laws that it enforces.  It does not maintain a separate site, however, for labor and employment issues that may arise in the agricultural context.

The 63-page Summary of Federal Laws Affecting Agricultural Employees (2000) is a good primer on the federal labor and employment laws that are explained in the following web pages, and includes discussion of some federal laws not covered in this web site.

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