Lacey restaurant owner withheld thousands in overtime pay, violated child labor laws

Investigation Reveals Violations of Labor Laws at Lacey Restaurant

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The Mayan Mexican Restaurants in Lacey, owned by Jose Sanchez, have been found to be in violation of labor laws, including withholding overtime pay and employing a minor beyond the allowable hours. These violations were discovered during an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Violations of Labor Laws

1. Withheld Overtime Pay

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Jose Sanchez failed to pay overtime wages to 20 workers employed at his three Mayan Mexican Restaurants in Lacey. Instead of compensating them at the appropriate overtime rates for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, the workers were only paid regular rates. This resulted in nearly $53,000 in unpaid wages.

2. Child Labor Violation

The investigation also revealed that a minor was working more hours on school days than allowed by law. In Washington, minors between the ages of 14 and 15 are only permitted to work up to 16 hours in a school week, while 16-17 year-olds can work up to 20 hours. However, the minor employed at one of the Mayan Mexican Restaurants exceeded these limits.

Consequences and Penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor has taken action to address these violations:

• The unpaid wages totaling nearly $53,000 have been recovered by the USDOL.
• An additional $6,440 in civil penalties has been imposed on Jose Sanchez.

Importance of Labor Regulations

The violations committed by Mayan Mexican Restaurants highlight the significance of labor regulations in ensuring fair treatment of employees. By underpaying workers and allowing a minor to work beyond the allowable hours, the restaurant owner disregarded federal overtime and child labor regulations. It is crucial for employers to comply with these regulations to protect the rights and well-being of their employees.

©2023 Cox Media Group

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The SDG addressed in the article is SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

The specific target under SDG 8 that can be identified based on the article’s content is 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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators related to measuring progress towards Target 8.7. However, the article mentions that a minor had worked more hours on school days than allowed, which implies a violation of child labor laws. This violation can be considered as an indicator of the presence of child labor, which is relevant for measuring progress towards ending child labor.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: kiro7.com

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