McDonald’s | The case of two 10-year-old boys who worked at a McDonald’s restaurant in the United States USA | USA | | the world

Two 10-year-old boys are among more than 300 minors illegally working at licensed McDonald’s restaurants in Kentucky and other states, according to a Kentucky Department of Labor investigation. America It was revealed this week.

According to the Andhra agency, investigators found it 10-year-olds earn little or no wages at McDonald’s in Louisville, Kentucky.

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The investigation focused on violations of child labor laws in the Southeast America.

CNN pointed out that Job Department It found three franchises that own more than 60 restaurants McDonald’s In Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio, “305 children were employed to work longer hours than legally permitted and to perform tasks prohibited by law for young workers.”

Minimum age to work in a restaurant McDonald’s According to their own principles, 16 years. when The federal government establishes that you can work from the age of 14, but only for certain hours.

Spanish newspaper Country explained that the federal laws of America They also recognize that minors’ work may not exceed three hours on a school day, and not eight hours on holidays or weekends, as long as it is not carried out during school hours. It also sets hourly limits: minors cannot work before seven in the morning.

In FY 2022,

The US Department of Labor found 688 minors working illegally in hazardous occupations.

Chain Univision described that 10-year-olds cleaning, taking orders for customers, serving at drive-thru window, receiving payments, using dangerous food fryer And sometimes they were in business till 2 am.

“Working in the kitchen late at night near dangerous equipment is a reality for many adults in the restaurant industry. But finding 10-year-olds in that work environment is cause for concern and action by the U.S. Department of Labor.”The statement said Job Department After his investigations.

A fine of one thousand dollars

Three owners McDonald’s In Kentucky they agreed to pay a total of $212,000 in fines for violating federal law.

One of these owners, Bauer Food LLCLouisville, which has 10 locations, employed “24 minors under the age of 16 beyond the time allowed by law.” The company was fined $39,711 for employing 10-year-old children.

Bauer Food LLC He stated that he did not know that two children under the age of 10 worked in his restaurant and that they were the children of the night manager. In a statement cited by CBS News, he noted that any work these children do is under the father’s direction and in his presence. He also stressed that he has trained employees on his policy on visiting minor children to prevent future labor violations.

Other owners included in the investigation Archways Richwood and Bell Restaurant Group.

Bell Restaurant GroupIt has offices and four branches in Louisville McDonald’sAllowed 39 minors between 14 and 15 years of age Work longer hours than the law allows, even during school days. The fine he received was nearly $30,000. Additionally, 58 workers will be paid more than $14,000 for unpaid overtime.

Archways RichwoodBased in Walton and 27 restaurants McDonald’sAllowed 242 minors between 14 and 15 years of age Work beyond permitted hours, according to the Department of Labor. For those violations, he paid more than $143,000 in fines.

McDonald’s USA’s response

The AP said the investigations are part of an ongoing effort Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor End Child Labor Abuse in the Southeastern United States.

“With many frequenciesEmployers do not follow child labor laws that protect young workers“said division director Karen Garnett-Civils. “Under no circumstances should a 10-year-old child work in a fast food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers,” he added.

While the spokesman said McDonald’s USAThis is what Tiffany Boyd said “These statements are unacceptable, deeply concerning and against the high expectations we have for the entire brand.”

“We are committed to ensuring our owners have the resources they need to promote safe workplaces for all employees and comply with all employment laws.” was added.

Univision noted The fast food restaurant industry in the United States is one of the most established in the world.. Consumers in that country have jumped from spending $272 billion in 2020 to nearly $305 billion next year.

Despite the abundance of funds, they pay low wages and the younger workers who make up the bulk of their wages are often exploited.