3 McDonald's Franchises Fined For Child Labor Violations

Facts

• Three separate McDonald's franchises have been fined $212,754 for child labor violations following a US Labor Dept. investigation that found minors working illegally at 62 locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, and Ohio.¹
• Archways Richwood LLC, a Walton, Ky.-based operator of 27 McDonald's locations, will pay more than $143K in civil penalties for allowing 242 minors aged between 14 and 15 to work earlier or later in the day than the law permits and more than three hours on school days.²
• Louisville, Ky.-based Bauer Food LLC, which operates 10 locations, is facing a roughly $40K fine for hiring two dozen children under 16 to work more hours than allowed by law, including two 10-year-olds who weren't paid despite working as late as 2 a.m.³
• Meanwhile, Bell Restaurant Group I LLC —also based in Louisville— is expected to be fined an estimated $29,267 in civil penalties for allowing 39 children aged 14 and 15 to work longer than authorized.⁴
• This crackdown comes months after the Biden admin. announced an initiative targeting low-wage industries to tackle child labor as law violations have reportedly been fueled by a tight labor market and a high number of unaccompanied children arriving from Latin America. Meanwhile, multiple states have relaxed child-labor laws as part of a GOP push.⁵
• The fast-food giant, which has some 14K restaurants across the US, profits largely from the rent and royalty income it receives from franchisees. Late last year, McDonald's franchise owners in Pennsylvania were also accused of child labor violations.⁶

Sources: ¹Entrepreneur, ²DOL, ³FOX News, ⁴NBC, ⁵Washington Post, and ⁶New York Post.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by National Review. The surge of child labor violations in the US is a direct consequence of the number of unaccompanied minors entering the country amid the border crisis. Based on a misguided liberal notion of humanitarianism, the Biden admin. has created a nefarious system rewarding the quick release of illegal child migrants only to let them be exploited by cash-driven businesses.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by Intelligencer. While the US faces a notable labor shortage in low-skilled positions, Central American adults are willing to migrate north to find work as they face economic misery at home. Despite evidence that policymakers should expand immigration opportunities, they have chosen not to take this opportunity — a decision that has forced unaccompanied minors to enter the US and work to send money to their families.

Predictions