MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — Employers must abide by the law when running a business or hiring new help, especially concerning workers under the age of 18.

The “Crimes Against Children Remedy” bill aims to increase penalties for employers in Alabama who violate child labor laws.

Penalties given by the Department of Labor apply to child labor violations, such as allowing someone under 21 to serve alcohol or letting a minor operate dangerous machinery.

Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) said that under current law, monetary penalties for some child labor violations are less than a traffic citation. The proposed bill bumps fines from $1,000 to $5,000 minimum for certain violations.

Sen. Stewart says many industries have seen an increase in child labor infractions.

“We’re seeing a rise in hazardous meat packing, in construction jobs, manufacturing jobs,” Stewart said.

The bill would also raise some violations to a felony if children are hurt or die while working illegally.

Dev Wakeley, a worker policy advocate for Alabama Arise, says this is a step forward to ensure these employees’ safety. He also suggests the bill should go one step further by removing tax incentives for companies that step out of line.

“This is a great first step towards an Alabama that values workers as the fundamental creators of all the wealth in the state,” Wakeley said.

Sen. Stewart said that his bill does not keep children from working, but rather would improve workplace environments across the state.

“It doesn’t deter children from being involved in the workforce, to participate in the workforce,” Stewart said. “This bill doesn’t do that. It just encourages safety.”

The bill passed unanimously in the Alabama Senate. It is scheduled for a vote Tuesday on the Alabama House floor. If it passes, it will go to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk for her signature.