Feds Fine MA Dunkin' Stores Over Child Labor Law Violations

WEYMOUTH, MA — The owner of a large chain of Dunkin' stores in southeastern Massachusetts will pay a $20,000 fine following a U.S. Department of Labor investigation into child labor law violations.

The five-figure fine follows two larger fines levied last week by state officials against two separate Dunkin' franchisees operating in northern Middlesex and Bristol counties.

According to federal officials, Dunkin' franchisee Fernando Sardinha violated the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by allowing people under age 16 to operate ovens unsupervised, and allowed workers as young as 14 to work more than allowed by law. Children age 14 and 15 can't work more than 3 hours on a school day, and not more than 8 hours on a non-school day.

The violations took place at 12 stores in Assonet, Berkley, Hanover, Marion, Mattapoisett, Middleboro and Weymouth, according to the department of labor.

On top of the fine, Sardinha has agreed not to employ children under age 14, to create an internal policy on child labor, hire a child labor compliance director and identify minor-aged workers by having them wear stickers on their name tags, among other stipulations.

The department of labor tracked a 37 percent rise in child labor law violations in fiscal year 2022, which officials said is due to a workforce shortage related to the pandemic.

The latest fines follow a six-figure penalty paid by a Worcester-area Dunkin' franchisee in November.