Monday, February 14, 2005
Wal-Mart Given 15 Days To Prepare For Any Investigations By Department Of Labor...
As DailyKos points out, Wal-Mart's campaign contributions are beginning to bear fruit...
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer agreed to pay $135,540 to settle federal charges that it violated child labor laws in Connecticut, Arkansas and New Hampshire. As part of the agreement, revealed yesterday after it was secretly signed in January, the Labor Department agreed "to give Wal-Mart 15 days' notice before the Labor Department investigates any other 'wage and hour' accusations, like failure to pay minimum wage or overtime."
The violations involved workers under age 18 operating dangerous machinery, including cardboard balers and chain saws. Consistent with its new P.R. role models -- the industries that brought us lung cancer, underage drinking and Bhopal -- Wal-Mart reached and agreements to pay the fine, although the company denied any wrongdoing.
I love the comment of a veteran DOL inspector on Wal-Mart's new sweetheart deal:
"With child labor cases involving the use of hazardous machinery, why give 15 days' notice before we can do an investigation?" asked a district office supervisor who has worked in the wage and hour division for nearly 20 years.
"What's the rationale?"
Wal-Mart: Guns, Censorship, Crap from China, and Dangerous Working Conditions For Children...
UPDATE: Given Wal-Mart's already shady track record on workers' rights, isn't this a little like giving Jason Giambi a 15-day heads-up before his next pee-pee test?
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