Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- A company operating 16 Jon's Marketplace stores in Los Angeles and Orange County has agreed to pay $113,225 in penalties to settle a federal complaint that the company violated the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

John Berberian and Berberian Enterprises Inc. signed a consent judgment filed in U.S. District Court to settle charges that the company employed 63 young workers in illegal hazardous work activities or in violation of the hours restrictions.

An investigation by the Glendale office of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division cited 15 stores for allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to operate paper crushing and baling machines--a job prohibited for workers under age 18. In addition, six markets were cited for allowing workers under 18 years of age to operate fork lifts. Three stores were cited for violating the restrictions on the hours and times that 14- and 15-year-olds may work. Only one Jon's Marketplace store, at 6655 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys, was not cited.

Under the FLSA, workers under age 18 may not be employed in occupations that have been declared hazardous by the Secretary of Labor. There are additional restrictions on the types of jobs that 14-and 15-year-olds may perform as well as limitations on the times of day and the number of hours such youth may be employed.

Fourteen-and 15-year-olds may not work during school hours, before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). They may not work more than three hours on a school day or more than 18 hours during weeks when school is in session. They may work a maximum of eight hours on nonschool days and up to 40 hours during weeks when school is not in session.

"Enforcing the child labor laws is a top priority of the Department of Labor. Compliance with these laws helps to ensure their safety in the workplace," said Sam Perez, Wage and Hour's district director.

For more information about the federal child labor laws, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243) or contact the Glendale district office at (213) 894-6375. Information is also available on the Internet at www.dol.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.