Birmingham Urban Air indoor fun park franchisee pays $28K in civil penalties after US Department of Labor finds child labor violations
Birmingham Urban Air indoor fun park franchisee pays $28K in civil ... US Department of Labor
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Employer:
Urban Air Tutwiler LLC, operating as Urban Air Trussville
- 3695 Roosevelt Blvd.
- Birmingham, AL 35235
Investigation findings:
The U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found the Birmingham indoor adventure park allowed 36 minor-aged employees, under 16 years old, to work after 7 p.m. on a school night, after 9 p.m. in the summer, more than 3 hours on school days and more than 18 hours a week during a school week, all violations of the child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The division also found the employer failed to include a worker’s bonus in overtime pay calculation, an FLSA overtime violation.
Civil money penalties assessed:
- $28,476 to address child labor violations
Back wages owed to workers:
- $145 to one worker
Quote:
“The significant increase in child labor violations nationwide is troubling,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Kenneth Stripling in Birmingham, Alabama. “Here in the Southeast and across the nation, the Department of Labor is committed to making sure young workers can experience the world of work without jeopardizing their safety or education by enforcing the laws that protect them.
Background:
In February 2023, the agency found a Jacksonville, Florida-based Urban Air location also in violation of child labor laws when it allowed 55 minor-aged employees, 14- and 15-years old, to work after 7 p.m. on a school night. The agency assessed the employer $43,505 in civil money penalties in that case.
Employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at its toll-free number, 866-4-US-WAGE. Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including information about protections for young workers on the department’s YouthRules! website.
Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages. Workers and employers alike can help ensure hours worked and pay are accurate by downloading the department’s Android and iOS Timesheet App for free, which is available in English and Spanish.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
| 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 | Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 4: Quality Education
The article discusses violations of child labor provisions and overtime pay calculations, which are related to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8). It also mentions the importance of protecting young workers’ safety and education, which aligns with the goal of quality education (SDG 4).
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified 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 4.4: 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
The violations of child labor provisions mentioned in the article relate to Target 8.7 under SDG 8. The emphasis on protecting young workers’ safety and education aligns with Target 4.4 under SDG 4.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group
- Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill
The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, based on the violations of child labor provisions, Indicator 8.7.1 can be used to measure progress towards Target 8.7. As for Target 4.4, the article does not provide specific information related to Indicator 4.4.1.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group |
| 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 | Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill |
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Source: dol.gov
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