Sawyer Smook-Pollitt
The operator of local Dunkin’ Donuts franchises has been cited for violating federal child labor laws at 12 locations, including locations in Marion and Mattapoisett, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Fernando Sardinha was cited for allowing 21 employees ages 14 and 15 to work more hours than federal law allows, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.
Employers at his 447 Wareham St. location in Middleboro were also cited for permitting three employees younger than 16 to operate an oven used to make sandwiches, which the agency described as a hazardous occupation for young workers.
At the same location, the investigation also found youths working more than eight hours per day and more than 40 hours per week during a non-school week, the agency reported.
The division assessed Sardinha and his businesses with $20,121 in civil penalties to resolve their violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions.
As part of the settlement, the employers agreed to a number of conditions, including not employing minors under 14; creating an internal policy to comply with child labor hours standards; and appointing a child labor compliance officer.
Federal labor law prohibits the employment of workers under the age of 14 in non-agricultural settings. At ages 14 and 15, workers must be employed outside of school hours and cannot work more than three hours on a school day,...
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