‘It’s scary. It’s dangerous’ | U.S. leaders strengthening child labor laws after Louisville McDonald’s restaurants found in violation

Strengthening Child Labor Laws in Louisville McDonald’s Restaurants

Congressman Morgan McGarvey has introduced a bill to crack down on violators of child labor laws in Louisville McDonald’s restaurants. The bill, known as the Workers Power Act, was sparked by a federal investigation in May that revealed several violations of child labor laws at McDonald’s locations, including one on Taylor Boulevard in downtown Louisville.

Disturbing Violations Caught on Video

A video from August 2022 showed two children preparing orders after midnight at the drive-through on Taylor Boulevard. The children’s faces were blurred to protect their identities, but witnesses reported that they appeared to be as young as 10 years old.

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“Those kids shouldn’t have been behind that counter at all,” said witness Nathan Pitts.

Investigation Reveals Widespread Violations

After a months-long investigation, the Department of Labor (DOL) discovered that the children were employed by the McDonald’s franchise and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m. The investigation also uncovered a total of 305 child labor violations at McDonald’s locations across Kentuckiana, Maryland, and Ohio.

“That’s completely unacceptable, and it took the news media breaking a story in order for the Department of Labor to conduct an investigation,” said Congressman McGarvey. “It’s because they’re so under-resourced and understaffed.”

Workers Power Act Aims to Prevent Future Violations

Congressman McGarvey introduced the Workers Power Act to provide the labor department with the resources needed to crack down on violations of child labor laws. The bill addresses not only child labor, but also workplace health and safety hazards and wage theft.

“First and foremost, I’m a parent. To see 10-year-olds working the fryer at 2 o’clock in the morning — it’s scary. It’s dangerous. It’s why we have these laws to prevent that from happening in the first place. But if we don’t have the enforcement behind it to make sure those laws are protecting our kids, then these unsafe working conditions are able to continue,” explained Congressman McGarvey.

Community Involvement and Fines

The legislation aims to promote reporting of dangerous working conditions and provide the Department of Labor with the necessary resources to prevent such violations. As of now, the bill has 36 cosponsors and is expected to move to committee soon. In the meantime, Congressman McGarvey encourages community members to report any unsafe conditions they observe.

The McDonald’s franchises involved in the child labor violations were issued fines totaling more than $200,000.

Conclusion

The Workers Power Act is an important step towards ensuring the protection of children in the workplace. By addressing child labor violations, workplace hazards, and wage theft, the bill aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. It promotes Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which aims to provide safe and secure working environments for all workers, including children.

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.