8 Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins violated child labor laws, officials said
8 Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins violated child labor laws, officials said WSPA 7News
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Child Labor Violations Found at Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) – Eight Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins violated child labor laws by allowing workers under the age of 16 to work longer and later than what’s legally allowed.
Violation Details
- After 7 p.m. between Labor Day and June 1.
- Past 9 p.m. between June 1 and Labor Day.
- More than 3 hours on a school day and more than 8 hours on a non-school day.
- More than 18 hours during a school week.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Atticus Franchise Group LLC operates 60 Sonic Drive-In locations, including eight in South Carolina — employed 36 children, ages 14 and 15, to work illegally between March 2021 and October 2022.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. They are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
Penalties and Locations
An investigation by the Department of Labor unveiled eight Upstate Sonic Drive-Ins will face penalties, including:
- Clinton: 925 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29615
- Gaffney: 1529 W. Floyd Baker Blvd, Gaffney, SC 29341
- Greenville: 954 N. Pleasantburg, Greenville, SC 29615
- Greenwood: 1427 Bypass 72 NE, Greenwood, SC 29649
- Greer: 119 S. Buncombe Road, Greer, SC 29650
- Laurens: 926 E. Main Street, Laurens, SC 29360
- Simpsonville: 12 Berry Blue Court, Simpsonville, SC 29680
- Woodruff: 1534 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607
Importance of Child Labor Regulations
“Businesses that employ 14- and 15-year-olds must balance workplace experience with educational opportunities and be aware of the limits on these young workers’ job duties and hours,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Jamie Benefiel in Columbia, South Carolina. “Child labor regulations ensure young workers can gain valuable work experience without interfering with their education or endangering their safety.”
Legal Consequences
Upstate attorney John Reckenbeil has seen and represented people in similar cases. “I’ve seen that happen before where they get called back into court and the judge has every reason to sanction that individual or the business owner,” he said.
If the fines are not paid, Reckenbeil said restaurant and business owners could get summoned to court and possibly face jail time. “Each incident ends up in a fine,” said Reckenbeil. “So if you have done massive violations you will then be subjected to court punishment if you do it again or you don’t pay the fines.”
Penalties for Atticus Franchise Group
The Department of Labor said Atticus Franchise Group is facing a $25,000 civil money penalty to address the violations found in the Up
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
The issues highlighted in the article are related to child labor violations, which are connected to the goals of ensuring quality education (SDG 4), promoting decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
- Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to providing relevant skills for employment (Target 4.4), eradicating child labor (Target 8.7), and ensuring safe migration and mobility (Target 10.7).
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include:
- Number of children employed illegally outside of legally allowed hours.
- Number of child labor violations found in specific locations.
- Amount of civil money penalties imposed on businesses for child labor violations.
- Percentage increase in child labor violations from previous years.
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the targets by tracking the number of child labor violations, the enforcement actions taken, and the overall trend in child labor incidents.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship. | – Number of children employed illegally outside of legally allowed hours. – Number of child labor violations found in specific locations. |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor. | – Number of child labor violations found in specific locations. – Amount of civil money penalties imposed on businesses for child labor violations. |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. | – Percentage increase in child labor violations from previous years. – Amount of civil money penalties imposed on businesses for child labor violations. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: wspa.com
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