The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announced that it recovered $45,570 in civil penalties from C Casa Napa LLC, operating as C Casa Restaurant and Bar in Napa, California, for serious violations of child labor laws.
The investigation revealed that the restaurant employed minors as young as 14 in conditions that violated the Fair Labor Standards Act, including allowing them to work outside of legally permitted hours during school days and illegally allowing them to operate hazardous equipment.
The Department emphasized its commitment to protecting young workers, noting that in fiscal year 2024 alone, more than 4,000 minors were found working in violation of federal law, leading to more than $15 million in penalties - an 89 percent increase from the previous year.
The Department continues to promote safe and lawful employment practices through initiatives like YouthRules!
Source: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20241226
Commentary
The YouthRules! initiative, led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, is a national campaign designed to promote positive and safe work experiences for young workers.
The initiative aims to educate teens, parents, educators, and employers about the federal and state labor laws that apply to minors in the workforce.
The initiative provides comprehensive resources to help each group understand their rights and responsibilities.
For young workers, it offers guidance on permissible work hours, types of jobs allowed, and how to file complaints if their rights are violated.
Parents are encouraged to ensure that their children's jobs do not compromise their health, safety, or education.
Educators are provided with tools to help inform students and families about child labor laws, while employers are guided on how to lawfully hire and manage young employees.
YouthRules! also includes downloadable materials, shareable graphics, and a mobile timesheet app to help young workers track their hours and pay.
Additional Sources: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/youthrules, https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/whd/youthrules/YouthRulesBrochure.pdf and https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/whd/whd20220729
