BELMAR — A Dairy Queen franchisee operating a Belmar location has violated federal child labor and wage regulations, according to a press release issued by the US Department of Labor on Monday.
Konstantine Menegatos, the franchisee who operates the Dairy Queen location found at 827 12th Ave., as well as three additional locations across the state in Rutherford, West Milford and Emerson, was found to have violated child labor provisions for 23 minor-aged employees, according to the department.
Mr. Menegatos has been fined $14,006 in civil penalties for child labor violations and has paid $9,764 in back wages to 15 employees, as reported by the department.
According to a press release, an investigation conducted by the US Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found that Mr. Menegatos failed to pay one employee minimum wage. Additionally, the employer failed to pay 14 workers the required time-and-a-half overtime premium for hours over 40 each workweek.
“The division also found the operator employed 15-year-old minors more than 3 hours on school days, more than 18 hours in weeks while school was in session, and until as late as 10 p.m., all of which violate child labor provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act [FLSA],” stated the press release.
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