Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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ESA-WHD New Release: [01/03/2001]
Contact Name: Brad Mitchell
Phone Number: Juan Solano (312) 353-6976
Release Number: V-2001-311

North Central Food Systems Inc., Cannon Falls, Minn., Pays $18,225 for Child Labor Violations Alleged by U.S. Labor Department

WASHINGTON — North Central Food Systems Inc., doing business as Hardee's, in Cannon Falls, Minn., has paid an $18,225 fine by the U.S. Department of Labor for allegedly violating child labor laws.

North Central Food Systems Inc. was fined by the department's Wage and Hour Division for allegedly employing 11 youths, ages 14 through 17, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Six minors worked in prohibited occupations. Eight minors worked more hours or later in the evening than permitted by federal regulations that protect young workers.

"Young teens should gain valuable work experience. However, vulnerable children should not work during hours, nor in occupations, that subject them to dangers," said Wage and Hour District Director Denise Scharlemann in Minneapolis.

The Labor Department alleged that five minors, ages 15 through 17, operated a meat slicer. This occupation is prohibited for minors under 18 years of age.

Two minors, age 15, cooked food. Under certain conditions, cooking is prohibited for minors under 16 years of age. One of the minors also operated a trash compactor, an occupation prohibited for minors under 16 years of age. Youths under 18 years of age may not operate a paper baler.

Eight minors, ages 14 and 15, were employed in violation of the hours and time standards. The minors worked as late as 12:30 a.m., as many as seven hours on a school day, and 35 hours during a school week. During non-school weeks, youths worked as many as 10 hours a day or 46 hours per week.

The Wage and Hour Division also recovered $11,605 in back wages for 27 employees. Two assistant managers did not receive overtime pay and other employees were not paid for all work hours. The back wages were for minimum wage and overtime pay violations.

The protection of child workers in the U.S. and abroad is one of Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman's top priorities. Secretary Herman's Safe Work/Safe Kids initiative attempts to help ensure that teens have safe and positive work experiences that do not compete with their education. The initiative, now in its second year, embraces a strategy of enhanced enforcement, increased education, strong partnerships, and heightened public awareness to increase compliance with federal child labor laws.

The Wage and Hour Division enforces federal child labor laws. The regulations detail hours that minors under 16 may work and specify hazardous occupations prohibited for minors under the age of 18.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) 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). They may work no more than three hours on school days, and no more than 18 hours in a school week. These minors may work up to eight hours on non-school days, or 40 hours during non-school weeks.

For more information about Safe Work/Safe Kids, the child labor provisions, or any other provision of the FLSA, contact the nearest Wage and Hour Division office listed in your telephone directory or log onto www.dol.gov/dol/esa/whd.

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