$226K In Fines For These Massachusetts Franchises Accused Of Child Labor Law Violations

DANVERS, MA — Franchise owners of more than 100 Dunkin', McDonald's and Subway locations across Massachusetts were fined a combined $226,385 for violating the state's child labor laws, state Attorney General Andrea Campbell said Tuesday morning.

Campbell's office said the fines were for separate violations against Cafua Management Company, LLC, The Brewster Company, LLC, and Knight Food Service Company.

"Our child labor laws exist to protect young workers and prioritize their safety and education as they learn new skills, earn income, and contribute to their communities," Campbell said in a statement. "My office will continue to enforce these laws to empower our youth and remind employers that Massachusetts is serious about protecting its workforce."

Campbell said a settlement was reached with Cafua, which operates over 80 Dunkin' franchise locations across Massachusetts. As part of the settlement, the AGO issued $140,000 in penalties against the employer.

The AGO found that Dunkin' franchise operators failed to obtain work permits for minor employees between February 2020 and February 2023, and that teens ages 16 and 17 worked legally prohibited hours in excess of nine hours per day, as well as that they were worked without immediate adult supervisor past 8 p.m.

The Dunkin' franchise operator manages over 80 locations across Massachusetts, including in Stoneham, North Andover, Danvers, Westford, Chicopee, Billerica, Pittsfield, Fall River, Lawrence, Dracut, Methuen, Chelmsford, Lowell, Tyngsboro, Saugus, Charlestown, Medford, Millbury, Westborough, Worcester, Grafton, Burlington, Lee, Peabody, Salisbury, North Billerica, Somerville, and Great Barrington.

Campbell's office also reached a settlement with Brewster, which operates eight McDonald’s franchise locations across the state. As part of the settlement, the AGO issued $63,930 in penalties against the employer.

Between May 2021 and May 2024, the McDonald's franchise operator is accused of failing to obtain work permits prior to employing minors, having minors work during legally prohibited hours, and employing minors in excess of the state's limit of nine daily working hours for workers who are 16 and 17 years old.

The McDonald's franchise operator manages eight locations across Massachusetts, including in Everett, Hanover, Woburn, Weymouth, Quincy, Norwell, Malden, and Revere.

Campbell also issued $22,455 in penalties against Knight, which operates multiple Subway franchise locations, for violating both the state's child labor and wage and hour laws.

The AG's Office said that between February 2023 and August 2024, the Subway franchise operator failed to obtain work permits prior to employing minors, employed minors in excess of the state's limit of nine daily working hours for workers that are 16 and 17 years old, and employed minors to work without an immediate adult supervisor after 8 p.m. The Subway franchise operator was also accused of failing to provide meal breaks for minors working more than six hours a day, and in violation of the state's wage and hour laws.

Under the state's child labor laws, minors aged 16 and 17 years old may not work for more than nine hours a day, six days a week, and 48 hours a week.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)