Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has announced citations against several Massachusetts franchise operators for violating state child labor laws. The violations involve Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, and Subway franchises, resulting in combined penalties of $226,385.
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) found Cafua Management Company, LLC, operating over 80 Dunkin Donuts locations, in violation of employing minors without work permits and allowing them to work beyond the legal hours. These actions led to $140,000 in penalties.
Violation of child labor laws was also found against The Brewster Company, LLC, which runs eight McDonald’s locations. The infractions included employing minors without permits and exceeding the daily working hour limit, resulting in $63,930 in fines.
Knight Food Service, Inc., managing Subway franchises, faced $22,455 in penalties. Allegations included not obtaining work permits for minors and failing to provide meal breaks or properly maintain records.
Massachusetts law limits work hours for minors aged 16 and 17, capping them at nine hours a day. The AGO, led by Campbell since January 2023, has issued citations totaling $4.9 million, affecting over 22,300 young workers.
The cases were addressed by AGO's Fair Labor Division, led by Assistant Attorneys General Drew Cahill and Amy Goyer, and Supervising Investigators Yolanda O’Shea and Jennifer Pak. More information on child labor laws can be found on the AGO's website.
Workers can file complaints with the AGO's Fair Labor Division through their website or by calling their hotline for guidance on employment law violations.