Some employers have a lot to answer for, under the tough new Connecticut child labor laws. Over the course of a typical year, approximately 800 cases involving minors in the workplace are investigated by the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Wage and Workplace Division.
Unfortunately, in the past, employers who violated the Connecticut child labor laws were subject to a mere $300 fine. Some irresponsible employers seem to have made a financial decision to violate the law, hoping that they would not be caught. Even if they were, the financial advantages of exploiting a minor often outweighed the fine.
According to the Wage and Workplace Division Director Gary Pechie, two of the most serious incidents took place during the summer of 2006. Two separate accidents occurred within a week of each other, seriously injuring two minors and resulting in arrest warrants for two local business owners.
“Keeping young workers better protected is a major goal of DOL’s wage and workplace division, and this new legislation will help us in our efforts to ensure companies do not put minors in harm’s way,” Pechie said.
“I have confidence that these new and tougher child labor laws will go a long way toward better protecting the state’s youth,” said Governor Rell. “Connecticut has a long history of statutes protecting minors in employment, yet both companies allowed a worker under the age of 18 to either climb ladders or engage in a hazardous activity. As a result of this new legislation, genuine penalties will carry more weight and ultimately better protect our young workers.”
In the first incident in August, a 15-year-old working for a Glastonbury landscaping company was injured when a Bobcat tractor used to clear brush and debris ran him over. In the other incident, a 16-year-old fell 18 feet from a roof while working for a roofing company based in Monroe. Under current law, it is illegal for minors to work in dangerous occupations, including working with heavy equipment and roofing. Both company owners ignored the law and employed people they knew were under 18 for dangerous occupations.
Following the Labor Department’s investigation of the landscaping accident, company owner T.Q. was charged by Glastonbury police with risk of injury to a minor. His case is pending. The Wage and Workplace Division issued an arrest warrant for C. S. owner of the roofing company and charged him with the hazardous employment of a minor.
Under the old Connecticut child labor law, roofing company owner C.S. was fined just $200. Both companies also were charged with failure to have a certificate of age on file for minors, which is required under state statute. Many Connecticut residents were shocked that an action resulting in critical injuries would carry such a small fine. Under the current law, the violation would carry up to 5 years in jail, plus a fine up to $5,000.
