The operator of five Marco’s Pizza locations in Charleston, South Carolina has recently paid $101,027 in civil penalties to resolve allegations made by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of violating child labor laws.
The complaints filed against Roshan Operations LLC, resulting from a two-year federal investigation, include allowing underage workers to perform prohibited or hazardous duties and assigning them hours above what is allowable by law, a DOL press release said.
"Teens bring value to workplaces, but achieving balance with needs typical of their age group is essential," DOL WHD District Director Jamie Benefiel, based in Columbia, South Carolina, said in the release. "Child labor laws are intended to ensure young workers obtain valuable experience safely and without interfering with their education. With kids back in school and the holiday season upon us, restaurant employers should review child labor laws and contact the Wage and Hour Division if they have questions."
Colin Trimble, a DOL community outreach and resource planning specialist
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The chain allegedly allowed employees aged 14 and 15 to work in prohibited baking activities, workers aged 14-17 to operate a pizza dough mixer, and a 17-year-old to deliver pizza, the release said. It was also claimed that employees aged 14 and 15 were scheduled to work after 7 p.m., more than three hours on a school day and more than 18 hours in a school week. All of the alleged activities violate federal work hour standards.
Teenagers are important sources of labor, especially during the holiday season, but labor laws must be upheld, Colin Trimble, a DOL community outreach and resource planning specialist, said in a Dec. 3 WCSC 5 news story.
"It's a time of year when more teen workers may seek work opportunities because they have a break from school, It's an opportunity for them to make some money working part time," Trimble said in the article. "We just want employers, parents, everyone involved to know that these child labor rules still apply."
In addition to the alleged child labor violations, Roshan Operations allegedly violated Fair Labor Standards Act overtime requirements by not combining work hours when employees worked multiple locations in the same workweek, the release said. Roshan Operations also allegedly failed to include certain bonuses into one worker's overtime pay. The investigation recovered $5,425 in back wages for the 26 affected workers.
The five Marco's Pizza locations were at 1585 Central Avenue, 9500 Dorchester Road and 1001 Bacons Bridge Road in Summerville, South Carolina; 650 College Park Road in Ladson, South Carolina; and 1319 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in Charleston, WCSC 5 reported.
