Investigators from the Department of Labor’s Hour and Wage Division found that two 10-year-olds were employed at a Louisville, Kentucky McDonald’s restaurant. Bauer Food, LLC, the operator of the McDonald’s franchise, employed 24 children under the age of 16 who worked more hours than they were legally permitted to do so. The two aforementioned 10-year-olds were employed at the restaurant, but were not paid and would sometimes work as late as 2 a.m. The children would prepare and distribute food orders, cleaned the store, and also worked the drive-thru and operated the cash register. One of these children was also allowed to operate a deep fryer which is not allowed under law. The operator was fined $39,711 in civil penalties as a result of the child labor violations.
However, this was not the only operator who the division found had serious child labor violations. Archways Richwood LLC. was found to have allowed 242 minors between 14 and 15 to work more hours than they were permitted. Most of these children worked later than they were allowed and more than three hours on a school day. Likewise, Bell Restaurant Group I LLC allowed 39 children to work outside of the permitted hours (including school days), and worked more hours than were allowed. The employer also failed to pay overtime wages to its workers and was ordered to pay back wages.
“We are seeing an increase in federal child labor violations, including allowing minors to operate equipment or handle types of work that endangers them or employs them for more hours or later in the day than federal law allows,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Karen Garnett-Civils. “An employer who hires young workers must know the rules. An employer, parent or young worker with questions can contact us for help understanding their obligations and rights under the law.”
The capitalist class seeks to maximize their profits and will do whatever is necessary to achieve this objective, including exploiting children outside the scope allowed by law. While children are exposed to potentially hazardous workplace conditions and working long hours, the private profits are earned by the employer who will pay a meager fine for the violations and continue business operations.
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