JUDSONIA, Ark. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor has issued $8,000 in civil penalties against a Judsonia blueberry farm for violating child labor and minimum wage laws.
The agency said Thursday the penalties were assessed against Double Springs Grass Farm after investigators found that a 10-year-old was hired to pick blueberries there. They also say four agricultural workers weren’t properly paid for the hours they worked.
Officials say $1,160 was recovered for the workers, and the farm has agreed to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The law allows children under 12 to work outside of school hours in non-hazardous jobs, but they must have parental consent and work on small farms where no one is subject to minimum wage requirements.
A message left at the farm for comment wasn’t immediately returned.
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