Iron River pizza restaurant fined, must make changes related to child labor – WDIO

Report: Violations of Federal Child Labor Laws at Pizza Parlor

A recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor has revealed multiple violations of federal child labor laws at Pizza Parlor, a restaurant located in Iron River, Wisconsin. As a result, the establishment has been fined $99,000 and is required to implement changes regarding employee identification.

Violations Found

• Illegal Employment of Children: The investigation found that 11 children were illegally employed at Pizza Parlor. Among them, six children operated and cleaned a meat grinder, while seven children drove cars on public roads to deliver orders. Additionally, a child under the age of 16 was found to be using an oven with temperatures ranging from 500-900 degrees Fahrenheit to cook pizza. According to the Department of Labor, children aged 14 and 15 are allowed to assist with food preparation and some cooking tasks, but baking is prohibited for them.
• Extended Working Hours: The children were also scheduled to work beyond the hours allowed by federal regulations. Children aged 14 and 15 are not permitted to work later than 7 p.m. between the day after Labor Day and May 31, and not later than 9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day. Their work hours are limited to a maximum of eight on a non-school day or 40 during a week when school is not in session. On a school day, they can work for a maximum of three hours, and during a week when school is in session, they can work for a maximum of 18 hours.

Resolution and Penalties

In order to resolve the investigation, the owner of Pizza Parlor has agreed to pay $99,882 in penalties and has committed to the following actions:

1. Applying stickers to alert employees under the age of 18 not to operate certain equipment.
2. Requiring all young workers to wear color-coded shirts and/or name tags to signify their ages. One color will be designated for 14- and 15-year-old children, another for 16- and 17-year-old teens, and a third color for workers 18 and older.
3. Posting and providing child labor and anti-retaliation fact sheets to each employee.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

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

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 sex and type of skill

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Explanation:
The article discusses violations of federal child labor laws in a pizza parlor, which is connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Specifically, Target 8.7 aims to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminate the worst forms of child labor. The article mentions that children under the age of 16 were engaged in hazardous tasks such as operating a meat grinder, driving cars on public roads, and using an oven at high temperatures. These violations indicate the presence of child labor, which can be measured using Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.

Additionally, the article highlights the importance of relevant skills for employment. This is connected to SDG 4: Quality Education, specifically Target 4.4, which aims to increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for decent jobs. The article mentions that children were engaged in cooking tasks, indicating the need for technical and vocational skills. Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with ICT skills can be used to measure progress towards this target.

Overall, the article addresses SDGs 8 and 4, with specific targets and indicators related to eradicating child labor and promoting relevant skills for employment.

Source: wdio.com