Court Orders Jacques-Imo’s to Pay $55,000 for Violating Child Labor Laws

Longtime New Orleans Cajun-Creole restaurant Jacques-Imo’s has paid out over $55,000 for violating multiple child labor laws of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announcement made yesterday, September 24.

WHD investigators found the Oak Street restaurant employed a 13-year old, made juveniles work over permitted hours, and had them perform dangerous jobs. The 13-year old (the minimum employment age is 14), suffered third-degree burns while carrying a vat of hot oil from the deep fryer, which a minor is also prohibited from doing by the FSLA if the oil’s temperature exceeds 100 degrees.

This minor, along with a 15-year old employee, were also found to have worked beyond the hours permitted for employees less than 16 years old, including working more than 40 hours per week, more than 8 hours on a non-school day, and more than 3 hours on a day when school is in session.

Eater has reached out to Jacques-Imo’s for comment and will update this post if we hear back.

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• U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR FINES NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANT FOR VIOLATING CHILD LABOR LAWS AFTER MINOR SUFFERS OIL BURNS [DOL.GOV]