Franchise Found to Employ Teens During School Hours
A Popeyes restaurant in Troy, Michigan, has come under scrutiny after investigators from the Department of Labor discovered that the franchise had violated child labor laws. The investigation, conducted by the department’s Wage and Hour Division, revealed that a total of 63 teens between the ages of 14 and 15 had been employed during school hours, which is a clear violation of federal labor law. The offending employer has been ordered to pay $48,251 in fines for these violations, according to a news release.
Protecting Children and Ensuring Compliance
“Far too often, we find teens working hours that are not allowed by the Fair Labor Standards Act,” stated Wage and Hour District Director Timolin Mitchell in Detroit. “Child labor laws were enacted nearly a century ago to protect children. Employers that hire teen labor must ensure they follow the law while allowing teens to earn valuable work experience.”
Violation Details
According to the Labor Department, the teenagers employed at the Troy Popeyes worked more than 18 hours during school hours and/or worked past 7 p.m. before June 1 and past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day. Federal law strictly prohibits 14- and 15-year-old employees from working past 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day, and past 7 p.m. during the rest of the year. Additionally, teenage workers may not work more than three hours on a school day, eight hours on a non-school day, or more than 18 hours per week.
Raising Awareness and Seeking Compliance
In recent years, the Labor Department has made efforts to crack down on child labor law violations. In February 2023, the department established an Interagency Task Force to Combat Child Labor Exploitation, aiming to align federal efforts in protecting children from exploitative situations in the workplace.
Increasing Incidents of Illegal Child Labor
Federal data reveals a disturbing trend of a 69% increase in children being employed illegally by U.S. companies between 2018 and 2022, as reported by the Labor Department. This problem has been exacerbated by the influx of unaccompanied migrant children from Latin America entering the U.S. illegally. In response, the Labor Department’s investigators identified child labor violations in 955 cases during the fiscal year 2023 and imposed fines amounting to over $8 million in penalties.
A Call for Action
“We see every day the scourge of child labor in this country, and we have a legal and moral obligation to take every step in our power to prevent it. Too often, companies look the other way and claim that their staffing agency, subcontractor, or supplier is responsible. Everyone has a responsibility here,” emphasized Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. He urged Congress and states to come together to address this urgent issue, stressing that it requires the collective effort of all stakeholders to combat child labor effectively.