The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found child labor violations, minimum wage violations, and overtime violations at all three La Panaderia Bakery and Cafe locations in San Antonio, Texas, on Aug. 4.
Federal investigators recovered back wages for affected employees and assessed civil money penalties against the establishment, according to DOL. The presence of violations at all three locations suggests systemic management failures rather than isolated incidents.
Child labor violations in the food service industry are an ongoing enforcement priority for the Wage and Hour Division, which has documented persistent patterns of underage workers employed in hazardous conditions or beyond legally permitted hours in the restaurant sector, DOL said.
The investigation also found that workers at the bakery and cafe chain were paid below the federal minimum wage and denied required overtime compensation for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, according to the department.
The restaurant and food service industry employs large numbers of young and immigrant workers who are among the nation’s most economically vulnerable employees. Federal labor law establishes strict limits on the hours, times of day, and types of work that minors may perform.
The Wage and Hour Division did not disclose the specific number of affected workers or the total amount of back wages recovered in its announcement. Civil money penalties assessed against employers found in violation of child labor laws can reach thousands of dollars per violation.
The case is part of a broader pattern of federal enforcement actions targeting labor violations in the restaurant sector across the country.