Question

Fifty-nine auto dealers around the country were fined $200,000 by the Department of Labor for child labor violations. The car dealers hire 16- and 17-year olds to move cars from service bays to customer pick-up areas and from lots to show rooms. They are also employed to wash cars. The teenagers move the cars literally only hundreds of feet in the process, but they are driving the cars.
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act and the federal regulations, only those employees who are age 18 or above are permitted to drive as part of job requirements. The fine for a violation is $1,100.
The Department of Labor contacted dealerships and asked for the names of their employees under the age of 18. Once the Department had the names, it contacted the young employees to question them about their job duties. Upon discovery of the driving, the dealerships were fined.
About one-half of the dealerships have paid the fines and the remainder are protesting. The result has been that dealerships will now employ only those who are 18 and older because it is impossible to have an employee responsible for washing cars and not be able to move the car. The result has been that many special job programs for minority students and students in vocational schools have been eliminated.
a. Do you think this type of driving was intended to be covered in the child labor statutes?
b. Are auto dealers taking advantage of children or helping them?

Answer

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