Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that Summer Fresh Supermarket Inc. has paid $12,870 in civil money penalties for violations of the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The department’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) district office in Kansas City conducted an investigation that covered the period Feb. 9, 2004 to Feb. 6, 2006 and found 13 minors under the age of 18 operating the supermarket’s trash compactor.

Acting WHD District Director Deann Alvarado said, “The youth employment Hazardous Order No. 12 prohibits minors under the age of 18 from operating power-driven paper-product machines and that includes operating a trash compactor, which is designated as a hazardous occupation.

“Youth employment laws are intended to protect young workers from dangerous jobs while still providing opportunities for safe, positive work experiences,” said Alvarado.

The FLSA and youth employment regulations establish the hours during which youth under the age of 16 may work and restrict employment in specific hazardous occupations for all youth under the age of 18.

The Labor Department has launched a YouthRules! Web page at www.youthrules.dol.gov to help young workers, employers, educators and parents learn more information about the hours youth may work and the jobs they may perform under the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. For more information about the FLSA, call the toll-free help line at (866) 4USWAGE (487-9243) or visit www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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