State labor teams began a three-day blitz Monday, dropping in on businesses locally and statewide to ensure they're abiding by Virginia's child-labor laws.
"What we've found in the past was that some employers will hire minors without really knowing what the law requires, especially in regard to hours of work, and we wanted to make them aware," said Wendy Inge, director for labor and employment law for the state Department of Labor and Industry.
"Our primary goal is to keep children safe statewide," Inge said. "For many of them, it's the first time they've had a job. We certainly want them to have a positive experience."
The Child Labor Blitz, which will run through Wednesday, will focus on the employment of 14- and 15-year-olds, who are subject to more limitations than older teenagers. For instance, 14- and 15-year-olds must have a work permit, which they can get at their schools.
Under state law, they also:
* May not work more than eight hours a day or 40 hours a week.
* May not work before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (or 7 p.m. from after Labor Day to May 31).
* Must receive a 30-minute break after five hours of continuous work.
* May not work in certain types of jobs, including construction and the operation of power-driven machinery.
Children under 14 are prohibited from holding most types of jobs, Inge said.
Inge said she did not have data on child-labor law violations in Virginia readily available, but the number was low. Penalties of up to $10,000 may be assessed for violations, she said.
This is the second year the department has engaged in the blitz. The campaign aims to reach up to 400 businesses, she said. The department is not targeting any type of business or those with previous violations.
The department's 10 child-labor investigators are fanning out across Virginia, targeting primarily heavily populated locales but also rural areas, Inge said.
Each visit is expected to last no longer than 30 minutes, she said. Investigators may ask to review work permits, also known as employment certificates, outline the laws and field questions.
Richard Maddox, a Virginia Beach businessman who owns four Dairy Queen stores, said he had not been visited by the state investigators Monday.
He said two of his 250 employees are 14 or 15. "We're very aware" of the laws, Maddox said. "We won't even start them on training until they have a work permit."
Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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