Olympia Sports settles labor violations

The state of Maine has settled with Olympia Sports Center Inc. regarding child labor violations at 12 of Olympia’s Maine stores. Olympia agreed to pay a civil penalty of $186,600.

The violations involved Olympia Sports employees who worked longer than permitted by law, either on an hourly or weekly basis. An audit of Olympia’s records covering the period from Feb. 28, 1999, to Feb. 28, 2001, showed 138 violations of statutory morning or evening hour restrictions, 589 violations of daily hour restrictions, 113 violations of weekly hour restrictions, and 12 violations of consecutive day restrictions.

Assistant Maine Attorney General Gwendolyn Thomas said Olympia had put in a tracking system to prevent future abuses. “Others can learn from Olympia’s experience,” she wrote in a press release.

Child labor laws are enforced at the administrative level by the Bureau of Labor Standards within the Department of Labor, and at the court level by the Attorney General’s Office.

William Peabody, director of Maine’s Bureau of Labor, said the work-hour restrictions were important for protecting youth. Companies needing help with the regulations are encouraged to call 624-6400, Peabody said.