McDonald’s fined for 14-year-old’s illegal 15-hour shift
24 February 2014
Fast food chain McDonald’s has been condemned by Western Australia's commerce minister for illegally employing a 14-year-old girl to work a shift of nearly 15 hours.
Mon, 24 Feb 2014
Fast food chain McDonald’s has been condemned by Western Australia's commerce minister for illegally employing a 14-year-old girl to work a shift of nearly 15 hours.
The company's Australian arm was fined A$15k (£8.1k) last week for employing the child to work at its Rockingham outlet, South of Perth, at times that were unlawful.
The court heard the child worked five separate shifts that were completed after 10pm Australian Western Standard Time (AWST), in breach of the Children and Community Service Act.
Under the Act, it is lawful for fast food industry employers to employ children aged 13 to 15, but they are not permitted to work before 6am or later than 10pm.
Commerce minister Michael Mischin said he was appalled that the company employed the 14-year-old child in a long overnight shift, which was "well outside what is reasonable and lawful".
He continued: “During one shift, the child commenced work at 3.21pm on a Saturday afternoon and did not conclude her shift until after 6am the following day. Consequently, the child worked a shift nearly 15 hours in duration, which included the prohibited hours of 10pm to 6am.”
This is McDonald’s fifth conviction in Australia for breaches of this law, with the previous four convictions occurring in 2007.
Fast food chain McDonald’s has been condemned by Western Australia's commerce minister for illegally employing a 14-year-old girl to work a shift of nearly 15 hours.
The company's Australian arm was fined A$15k (£8.1k) last week for employing the child to work at its Rockingham outlet, South of Perth, at times that were unlawful.
The court heard the child worked five separate shifts that were completed after 10pm Australian Western Standard Time (AWST), in breach of the Children and Community Service Act.
Under the Act, it is lawful for fast food industry employers to employ children aged 13 to 15, but they are not permitted to work before 6am or later than 10pm.
Commerce minister Michael Mischin said he was appalled that the company employed the 14-year-old child in a long overnight shift, which was "well outside what is reasonable and lawful".
He continued: “During one shift, the child commenced work at 3.21pm on a Saturday afternoon and did not conclude her shift until after 6am the following day. Consequently, the child worked a shift nearly 15 hours in duration, which included the prohibited hours of 10pm to 6am.”
This is McDonald’s fifth conviction in Australia for breaches of this law, with the previous four convictions occurring in 2007.
