Chipotle is facing a $1.3 million fine for committing over 13,000 child labor violations at its Massachusetts locations.
Boston CBS affiliate WBZ 4 reports that attorney general Maura Healey has handed the chain the largest child labor penalty ever issued by the state after discovering an approximate 13,253 child labor violation at more than 50 locations.
“Chipotle is a major national restaurant chain that employs thousands of young people across the country and it has a duty to ensure minors are safe working in its restaurants,” Healey said in a statement, per the outlet. “We hope these citations send a message to other fast-food chains and restaurants that they cannot violate our child labor laws and put young people at risk.”
According to the fine, Chipotle had employees who were under 18 years old working later than midnight and for over 48 hours a week. Teenagers told investigators that their hours of work kept them from doing their schoolwork. The company also often hired minors who didn’t have work permits.
The settlement total is close to $2 million, which encompasses penalties for earned sick time violations where managers gave employees paid time off only for certain illnesses. The offenses also include failing to maintain accurate records and pay timely wages. The company was charged to pay a voluntary $500,000 payout to a state youth worker fund committed to education, enforcement, and training.
