Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Printer-Friendly Version

Press Releases

BIRMINGHAM, AL -- The U.S. Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division has assessed $29,040 in civil money penalties against R AND S Theaters Inc., operator of the Royal United Artists Bonita Lakes Cinema, Meridian, Miss. Penalties were assessed against the company for allowing minors to work in violation of the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

Wage and Hour investigators found that eleven 16- and 17-year-old employees routinely loaded and operated a trash compactor and baler, even though a large sign posted on the machine warned that mi nors under18 were prohibited from operating the equipment.

“Jobs can help young workers develop valuable skills, but the work must not jeopardize their health and safety,” said Oliver Peebles III, the Wage and Hour Division’s Birmingham assistant district director.

Operating a trash compactor is one of the jobs listed in the FLSA’s hazardous occupations orders. The orders identify jobs and industries deemed too hazardous for workers under 18 years of age.

The youth employment provisions of the law allows 14- and 15-year olds to work outside school hours, but not later than 7:00 p.m. (9:00 p.m. from June 1 until Labor Day) and for no more than three hours on school days or 18 hours during school weeks. These minors may work up to eight hours on non-school days or 40 hours during non-school weeks.

In May 2002, the Labor Department launched YouthRules!, a public awareness campaign to educate young workers, parents and employers about jobs youth may perform and the hours they may work. Information about youth employment can be found on the Internet at www.youthrules.dol.gov.

For further information on other requirements of the FLSA, call the department’s toll-free help line at 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243), visit the department’s web site at www.wagehour.dol.gov, or contact the Birmingham district office at 955 22nd St. N., Suite 656; phone: (205) 731-1305.

###

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.