Two 10-year-old youngsters labored unpaid shifts at a McDonald’s in Louisville, Kentucky, in line with labor investigators.
The pair labored late shifts, typically till 2 a.m. They carried out most of the identical duties as grownup employees, together with working the money register, taking drive-thru orders and dealing the deep fryer. According to federal rules, nobody underneath age 16 is allowed to function a deep fryer because it’s harmful tools.
Labor officers say the franchise that owns the Louisville location, Bauer Foods, employed 24 youngsters underneath age 16 at its shops. While the minimal working age within the U.S. is 14, there are strict limits to how a lot youngsters can work and the form of work they will do.
Bauer Foods was fined $39,711 for the violations.
The two 10-year-olds are solely a part of the over 300 youngsters youthful than 16 who labor investigators discovered working illegally at McDonald’s places in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and Ohio.
Many of the franchises cited by the Labor Department employed youngsters and stored them longer than legally allowed.
Some franchises participated in wage theft from minors as properly. According to investigators, the franchise Bell Restaurant Group had teenagers work late into the evening and did not pay additional time. The firm was ordered to pay over $14,000 in again wages to the 58 youngsters.
The McDonald’s revelations come throughout a crackdown on baby labor. The Labor Department issued $4.3 value of penalties in 2022 and located 688 minors employed illegally, making it the very best rely since 2011.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com