Chapter 227

2005 -- H 5649 SUBSTITUTE B

Enacted 07/10/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN     

Introduced By: Representatives Moura, Slater, Diaz, and McCauley

Date Introduced: February 16, 2005

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 28-3-14 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-3 entitled "Employment

of Women and Children" is hereby amended to read as follows:

28-3-14. Maximum continuous employment without mealtime. -- No man, woman, or

child shall be employed for more than six (6) hours at one time in a factory, workshop,

mechanical, or mercantile establishment without an interval of at least twenty (20) minutes for a

meal; but the man, woman, or child may be so employed for not more than six and one-half (6

1/2) hours at one time if the employment ends not later than 1:00 P.M. if he or she is then

dismissed from the factory, workshop, mechanical, or mercantile establishment for the remainder

of the day he or she may be so employed, or for not more than seven and one-half (7 1/2) hours at

one time if he or she is allowed sufficient opportunity for eating a lunch during the continuance of

the employment, and if the employment ends not later than 2:00 P.M. and he or she is then

dismissed from the factory, workshop, mechanical, or mercantile establishment for the remainder

of the day. This section does not apply to any telephone exchange where the operator during the

night is not required to operate at the switchboard continuously but is able to sleep during a

considerable part of the night. All employees are entitled to a twenty (20) minute mealtime within

a six (6) hour work shift, and a thirty (30) minute mealtime with an eight (8) hour work shift. An

employer shall not be required to compensate an employee for this mealtime. The provisions of

this section shall not apply to: (a) an employer of a health care facilities licensed in accordance

with chapter 23-17 of the general laws; or (b) an employer who employs less than three (3)

people on any shift at the worksite.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.     

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LC00141/SUB B

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