Target Corporation has paid fines totaling $92,400 after the Department of Labor accused the company of exposing young workers to hazardous machinery at six Hudson Valley, New York-area stores and one New Jersey store.
The department accused the company of violating the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The department said that 29 minors were operating either power-driven hoisting apparatus or power-driven scrap paper balers. The FLSA's regulations prohibit young workers under the age of 18 from operating such equipment.
The department says Target withdrew its earlier request for an administrative law judge hearing on the matter and paid the full fine. The company also provided the department with an outline of the steps it will take in its New York and New Jersey stores to ensure full compliance with all youth employment regulations in the future.
"The Labor Department increased the fines in this case because Target had previously violated the child labor hazardous occupations order at other store locations," says Corlis Sellers, Northeast regional administrator for the department's Wage and Hour Division.
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