The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is investigating 60 rural Michigan supermarkets to determine if they are in compliance with the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The supermarkets that are being investigated were randomly selected from 47 rural Michigan counties.

In January, the department mailed compliance-assistance information to 485 rural supermarkets. Approximately 60 supermarkets will be investigated in March to determine if they are adhering to the laws that protect young workers.

The department says that investigations conducted last year of rural Michigan supermarkets found minors under age 16 working later or for more hours than permitted by federal regulations. The investigations also disclosed minors operating power-driven meat slicers and dough-mixing machines in violation of federal law.

"As a result of a similar initiative last year, we realized the need to continue raising awareness of the laws that protect vulnerable young employees," says James Smith, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Detroit. "We will continue to work with employers to ensure that teens have safe and rewarding work experiences during hours that do not interfere with their studies."