(ConservativeHub.com) – On May 2, the Labor Department in a release stated that its Wage and Hour Division had found over 300 minors working at restaurant locations across four states, with two of the minors being just about 10 years old.
According to the news release, the two 10-year-olds were performing work in Louisville, Ky at one of the McDonald’s restaurants in the area. Three franchisees, including Bauer Food LLC, Bell Restaurant Group I LLC, and Archways Richwood LLC, had reportedly employed 305 minors who were made to work longer hours than those that they were legally permitted to work according to federal regulations.
This violation had occurred in 62 locations across multiple states, including Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, and Indiana. Specifically, Bauer Food was found to be employing 24 minors that were under the age of 16, including two 10-year-olds who while employed were not being paid and were made to work as late as 2 a.m. Archways Richwood was found to be employing 242 minors between the ages of 14 and 15 who were working longer hours than those permitted by the law. In addition, Bell Restaurant Group allegedly had nearly 40 14 and 15-year-olds working — also for longer hours than legally allowed.
In total, the involved franchises were fined over $212,000 over these violations, with Bauer facing a $40,000 fine, Archways Richwood a more than $140,000 fine, and Bell Restaurant facing a $29,000 fine.
Bauer Food has denied the claims about the 10-year-olds, stating that these were family members of a manager who had just been visiting the location during their parents’ work shift.
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