The state Department of Labor is investigating child labor violations at New York businesses as part of an initiative to protect minors working in the state, according to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
The department inspected 145 companies involved in child labor practices, resulting in $105,000 in penalties.
In 2021, the department discovered several violations of child labor laws at a Wendy’s restaurant located on Staten Island, including letting minors work during the school day, late on school nights, or beyond required daily and weekly work limits by the law The department audited Princeton Food Services LLC after an anonymous complaint about the Staten Island location resulted in the company paying $105,000 in penalties.
“New York State continues to build on our efforts to make our state the safest in the nation for all workers, especially child workers,” Hochul said in a statement. “With these new initiatives, we are reaffirming our commitment to ending abusive child labor practices and creating a safer working environment for all.”
The Department of Labor has something new Online Child Labor Complaint Form for people to report violations as part of the department’s work with the Child Labor Taskforce announced earlier this year. Hochul announced working group in March in response to the increase in child labor violations.
A child labor center It was also recently posted on the department’s website, which includes information for employers to improve compliance with federal and state child labor laws. He also has a programming template, work calendar sample, color coding programming guide and online training videos.
The department’s Division of Labor Standards continues to investigate violations of child labor laws, including requiring workers ages 14 to 17 to have employment papers to work in the state, complying with minimum wage laws and prohibiting minors from perform certain tasks in a workplace considered dangerous. , according to the governor’s office.
“Our children are the future of New York State and they must be protected as they begin their journey into the workforce,” said Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “New York State has some of the strongest protections for minors in the workplace. Any business that skirts the law will be quickly found and brought to justice. I encourage the young members of our workforce and the their parents to understand their rights and to file complaints if they do. suspect they are a victim.”
