Bay Area restaurant chain fined $550,000 for denying overtime pay, violating child labor laws

Operator of Bay Area Restaurant Chain Fined for Violating Labor Laws

Introduction

The operator of the Bay Area restaurant chain, Crepevine, has been fined over half a million dollars for violating federal child labor laws and denying overtime pay to its workers. The U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation and found that Suleiman Fakhouri & Sons, the operator of Crepevine, did not properly pay overtime to its employees at multiple locations. The investigation also revealed that minors were made to work longer hours than allowed by child labor laws.

Violation Details

• Suleiman Fakhouri & Sons did not pay workers overtime properly at locations in Berkeley, Burlingame, Oakland, Palo Alto, and San Jose.
• Minors were assigned to work later and longer hours than permitted by child labor laws.

Recovery and Fines

The investigation resulted in the recovery of $234,636 in back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. Additionally, Suleiman Fakhouri & Sons was fined $82,706 for the willful nature of the violations. In total, the fines amounted to $551,978.

Specific Violations

• The company failed to combine hours worked by employees at multiple locations.
• Overtime hours were paid in cash at straight-time rates instead of time-and-a-half.
• Employees aged 14 and 15 were allowed to work past 7 p.m., exceeding the permitted hours on school nights and during school weeks.

Importance of Compliance

Wage and Hour Division District Director Susana Blanco emphasized the responsibility of employers to ensure that their employees are paid properly and receive all the protections they are entitled to.

Other Locations

In addition to the locations mentioned in the investigation, Suleiman Fakhouri & Sons also operates Crepevine restaurants in Mountain View, San Francisco, San Rafael, and Santa Rosa.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 4: Quality Education

2. Specific targets under those SDGs based on the article’s content:

• 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 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

3. Indicators mentioned or implied in the article:

• Indicator for Target 8.7: Number of labor law violations related to overtime pay and child labor.
• Indicator for Target 4.7: Number of minors assigned to work later and longer than permitted by child labor laws.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Explanation:

The article highlights violations of labor laws related to overtime pay and child labor by the operator of Bay Area restaurant chain Crepevine. These issues are connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. Specifically, Target 8.7 focuses on eradicating forced labor, ending modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminating the worst forms of child labor. The violations mentioned in the article, such as denying overtime pay and allowing minors to work beyond legal limits, are indicators of the lack of compliance with these targets.

Additionally, the article mentions that minors were assigned to work later and longer than permitted by child labor laws. This is relevant to SDG 4: Quality Education, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Target 4.7 specifically emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles. The indicator in this case is the number of minors assigned to work in violation of child labor laws, indicating a lack of protection and education for these young workers.

In summary, the article highlights violations of labor laws related to overtime pay and child labor, which are connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 4: Quality Education. The specific targets identified are Target 8.7 and Target 4.7, respectively. The indicators mentioned or implied in the article include the number of labor law violations related to overtime pay and child labor, as well as the number of minors assigned to work beyond legal limits.

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Source: mercurynews.com

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