SALT LAKE CITY — A recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor's Regional Office found that Salt Lake City's District Office had the most cases with child labor violations by a considerable margin, as well as the most penalties collected.
Child labor law violations not only impact businesses who face fines or other sanctions, but can put children at risk to dangers on the job.
It also reported that the Salt Lake City office found 611 minors to be working in conditions that violated child labor laws, more than three times the number reported by the next highest office in Dallas.
In September investigators assessed over $187,000 in civil penalties against two St. George Chick-Fil-A restaurants for employing 237 minors in violation of child labor laws, and requiring them to clock out during breaks
Child labor laws seek to protect the health and well-being of young workers, as well as their educational opportunities, as there are provisions forbidding work that interferes with school hours.
READ: USDA warns meat packing industries after child labor violations
In a recent investigation, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found children working overnight shifts in 13 meat packing plants owned by nine different companies, but tasks found to be too dangerous for child labor include the following:
- Performing jobs that are off-limitsand hazardous for their age
- Working longer or later than legally allowed
- Working during school hours
- Driving a motor vehicle or forklift
- Using meat-processing machines and vertical dough or batter mixers.
To reduce the number of cases involving child labor violations, the DOL has issued a best practices guide and dangerous job guide that outlines which jobs are off-limits to children under 18.
Additional rules apply for kids under 16 who work on farms and ranches.
