(WIFR) – Almost 300 new laws ring in the new year including one that affects the way employers post open positions.

The Illinois Equal Pay Act, enacted in 2003, adds several amendments starting January 1st, 2025. Among these are laws that strengthen pay transparency and promotion posting requirements.

Businesses with 15 or more employees must include the salary range and a general description of the benefits and other compensation for open positions posted on job sites.

Additionally, employers must announce all promotion opportunities to all current employees no later than 14 days after posting externally.

Dave Vella, 68th District State Representative, hopes to put more money into residents with these amendments. He says this is an opportunity to empower the Illinois worker.

“As we saw from the last election, there’s a lot of discontented people who want the economy to change,” Vella says. “This is a way to change the economy is to get people paid better. Which is, I think is a good thing overall, for all of us.”

But 90th District State Representative John Cabello disagrees. He believes Illinois is acting as a nanny state and these changes will do little to nothing to boost the economy. Cabello adds that the beauty of our country exists in the free market that keeps the government out of personal business.

“If you can get the better-paying job, you’re probably going to go do that. And if you are one company that’s not paying the same amount, you’re probably going, “Why am I not getting better employees or more talented people?” Well, that’s probably because you need to raise your pay,” Cabello says.

On the other hand, Vella believes this is a step towards leveling the playing field between worker and employer. Besides worker empowerment, he says these amendments decrease gender and racial disparities.

“Women ask for less money for their job than men do. If we say how much the low end and the high end is, it will, I think give women more of a prompt to ask for more money so that there’s a pay equity,” Vella says.

You can check out the full amended Illinois Equal Pay Act here.

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