(820 ILCS 105/2) (from Ch. 48, par. 1002)
Sec. 2.
The General Assembly finds that the existence in industries, trades or
business, or branches thereof, including offices, mercantile establishments
and all other places of employment in the State of Illinois covered by this
Act, of conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standard
of living necessary for the health, efficiency and general well-being of
workers, leads to labor disputes, and places burdens on the State, and all
other subordinate political bodies thereof, to assist and supply necessary
moneys and goods to workers and their families to aid them to exist on a
minimum budget for their needs, and thus places an unnecessary burden on
the taxpayers of this State. Therefore, it is the policy of this Act to
establish a minimum wage standard for workers at a level consistent with
their health, efficiency and general well-being; to safeguard such minimum
wage against the unfair competition of wage and hour standards which do not
provide such adequate standards of living; and to sustain purchasing power
and increase employment opportunities.
It is against public policy for an employer to pay to his employees an
amount less than that fixed by this Act. Payment of any amount less than
herein fixed is an unreasonable and oppressive wage, and less than
sufficient to meet the minimum cost of living necessary for health. Any
contract, agreement or understanding for or in relation to such
unreasonable and oppressive wage for any employment covered by this Act is
void.
(Source: P.A. 77-1451.)
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