Metro Detroit Little Caesars​ Restaurant Violates Child Labor Laws, Hit With Fines: Feds

FARMINGTON HILLS, MI — A Farmington Hills Little Caesars restaurant was hit with tens of thousands of dollars in fines after violating multiple child labor laws, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The operator of the Little Caesars' pizza location, JMP Pizza Inc., assigned minors to work beyond their legally permitted hours and operate dangerous equipment, though they were underage, according to federal officials.

Officials said one child under the age of 16 was assigned to use an oven heated between 500 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit to cook pizza. The child also used a pizza dough mixer, according to federal officials.

It's illegal for minors under the age of 16 to perform baking activities, and they may only be involved in limited cooking tasks, according to federal officials.

The employer also allowed three children to work beyond 7 p.m. on school nights, which exceeds the hours permitted by child labor laws, according to federal officials.

Under federal law, children under the age of 16 cannot work beyond 7 p.m. between the day after Labor Day and May 31.

In addition, minors cannot work more than three hours on a school day, including Fridays, and no more than 18 hours in a week in which school is in session. They also cannot work past 8 hours on a non-school day, or 40 hours per week when school is not in session.

JMP Pizza paid $26,341 in civil penalties civil fine to the labor department's Wage and Hour Division for those violations, according to federal officials.

"Learning new skills in the workforce is an important part of growing up — but we must protect children and ensure their first jobs are safe jobs and do not interfere with their education or well-being," Wage and Hour Division District Director Tim Mitchell said. "The Fair Labor Standards Act allows for safe work experiences but restricts the employment of young workers in certain jobs and during certain hours, and provides for penalties when employers do not follow the law."