Chipotle has agreed to pay a fine of $322,400 to the city of Washington, D.C. after it was accused of allegedly being found in violation of child labor laws.
The Office of D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb revealed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday. Chipotle, which has 20 locations throughout the city, allegedly violated child labor laws by scheduling minors to work more than eight-hour shifts and 48 hours in a week, according to the settlement agreement.
“We applaud young people who take the initiative to work in addition to going to school,” Schwalb said in a statement, according to DCist. “But the law limits the hours they can work to ensure they are healthy, well-rested, and able to fulfill their responsibilities as students and to their families.”
NEW: Chipotle will pay $300,000+ to resolve allegations that it violated DC child labor laws after our office found 800+ potential violations.
— AG Brian Schwalb (@DCAttorneyGen) August 28, 2023
We will use this settlement to connect youth with healthy workforce opportunities & help ensure that all young people in DC can thrive.
Starting on April 1, 2020, to the present day, Chipotle allegedly violated the District’s child labor laws by “permitting minors to work after 10:00 p.m.” and allowing minors to work longer hours than allowed, and allowing minors to “work more than 6 consecutive days in a week,” according to the settlement agreement.
Chipotle denies the allegations that it violated the city’s child labor laws and nothing in the settlement agreement “may be construed” as an admission of guilt, according to the settlement agreement.
In addition to the fine, Chipotle is instructed to provide apprentices and general managers at D.C. Chipotles with training on the child labor laws in the city within six months of either being promoted or hired, according to the settlement agreement.
