Little Caesars’ operator in Farmington Hills violated child labor laws, fined $26k – FOX 2 Detroit

Little Caesars' operator in Farmington Hills violated child labor laws, fined $26k  FOX 2 Detroit

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Jan 17, 2025 - 11:00
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Little Caesars’ operator in Farmington Hills violated child labor laws, fined $26k – FOX 2 Detroit

Little Caesars’ Franchise Fined for Child Labor Law Violations

Introduction

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that a Little Caesars’ franchise employer has been fined tens of thousands of dollars for violating child labor laws.

Investigation Findings

An investigation revealed multiple violations at the Farmington Hills-based pizza shop, including children working with dangerous equipment and working beyond the allowed hours.

  • Children were found to be operating heavy equipment and working past the legal hours.
  • Several children were illegally employed, resulting in a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

JMP Pizza Inc. Fined

JMP Pizza Inc., the operator of the Little Caesars’ pizza location, has paid a civil fine of $26,341 to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The fine was imposed due to the employment of children in hazardous tasks and beyond the permitted working hours.

Specific Violations

During the investigation, it was discovered that one child under the age of 16 was operating an oven heated between 500 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as a pizza dough mixer. These activities are prohibited for 14 and 15-year-olds.

Additionally, three other children were found to be working longer hours than allowed by labor laws.

Child Labor Laws

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, children under the age of 16 are not allowed to work past 7 p.m. after Labor Day and before May 31. However, during the summer, they can work until 9 p.m. Work hours on non-school days should not exceed eight hours.

Importance of Protecting Children

A division director with the labor department emphasized the importance of providing young people with valuable skills while ensuring their safety and well-being. He stated that the Fair Labor Standards Act allows for safe work experiences but imposes restrictions on the employment of young workers in certain jobs and during specific hours.

Timolin Mitchell, the division director, also mentioned the YouthRules! initiative, which aims to educate employers and parents about appropriate work guidelines for young people.

Helpline for Assistance

The Wage and Hour Division offers a toll-free helpline for anyone in need of assistance. Both employees and employers can contact the agency’s helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

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

  • SDG 4: Quality Education
  • SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article involve child labor law violations, which are connected to the goals of ensuring quality education, decent work, and economic growth, as well as promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.

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

  • SDG 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.
  • SDG 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.
  • SDG 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Based on the article’s content, the targets related to providing relevant skills for employment, eradicating child labor, and ending exploitation and violence against children can be identified.

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

  • Indicator for SDG 4.4: Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.
  • Indicator for SDG 8.7: Number of child labor law violations and fines imposed on employers.
  • Indicator for SDG 16.2: Number of cases of child labor and exploitation identified and addressed.

The article mentions child labor law violations, fines imposed on the employer, and the discovery of children working under illegal conditions. These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 4: Quality Education 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. Number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 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. Number of child labor law violations and fines imposed on employers.
SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children. Number of cases of child labor and exploitation identified and addressed.

Source: fox2detroit.com