OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A bill to give minors more protections while on the job has passed into state law.

“These violations range from hours of work, meal and rest break violations to the health and safety violations that have left minors with permanent injuries, severe injuries,” prime bill sponsor Rep. Mary Fosse said, speaking on what HB 1644 is aiming to protect minors from.

Gov. Bob Ferguson held a ceremony for signing this bill into law, which he says is an important piece of legislature.

“Even in a state like Washington, we still had a situation where bad actors who do not provide a safe work environment for minors are paying, what, hundreds of dollars, right?” Gov. Ferguson said. “Small amounts of money they’re penalized. That’s not okay and we have folks who are looking at our legislation, saying, ‘Wait a second, this needs to change and we’re going to work to make it happen.'”

The new law significantly increases the fines for violating minor labor laws.

Employers can pay up to $1,000 for each infraction, including not having a minor work permit, which is already required by state law.

This law comes as other states such as Florida have debated rolling back their child labor laws.