Las Vegas pizza restaurants fined $277K for violating child labor laws

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Federal investigators found more than two dozen children working in Las Vegas valley pizza restaurants working more hours than allowed and performing dangerous tasks while on the job, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The investigation involved 28 children ages 15 to 17 years old working at 10 Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza locations in Las Vegas and Henderson. Those locations were fined $277,414 in civil penalties following the investigation.

The news release said 23 children were operating industrial pizza dough mixers which is considered a dangerous task and five 15-year-olds were working more hours, sometimes as late as 10:30 p.m. which goes against the Fair Labor Standards Act. Children who are 15 are not allowed to work more than three hours on school days and no later than 7 p.m. during the school year.

“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 and do not interfere with their education or well-being,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Gene Ramos in Las Vegas. “The Fair Labor Standards Act allows these important work experiences but ensures that when children work, they are employed in a manner that promotes their health, safety and educational opportunities.”

The pizza company, owned by Bryz Guyz Inc. and based in Pasadena, California, has more than 300 restaurants in 38 states.

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