McDonalds fined for overworking 14-year-old

• Fast food giant fined after young employee works 15-hour overnight shift 

McDonalds Australia Limited was fined $15,000 this week in the Perth Industrial Magistrates' Court for illegally employing a child at its Rockingham outlet.

Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said the Department of Commerce had initiated the action against the company after learning of the breach of the Children and Community Service Act 2004 (the Act).

Mr Mischin said McDonalds were charged for employing a child aged less than 15 years to work at times that were unlawful, namely in five separate shifts of work that were completed after 10pm.

"During one shift, the child commenced work at 3.21pm on a Saturday afternoon and did not conclude her shift until after 6am the following day," he said.

"Consequently, the child worked a shift nearly 15 hours in duration, which included the prohibited hours of 10pm to 6am.

"A further shift was not completed until after midnight on a night preceding an ordinary school day.

"I am appalled that an employer would, in this day and age, employ a 14-year-old child in an overnight shift of work from Saturday afternoon through until Sunday morning.   

"Our employment laws seek to provide children with the benefits of participating in employment while balancing the remaining important aspects of their lives, including their education.  Clearly this circumstance falls well outside what is reasonable and lawful.

"I congratulate the Department of Commerce for identifying this breach and ensuring that it could be appropriately dealt with by the courts. 

"All business operators that are either contemplating or actually employing children should contact the department's free and confidential Wageline Service on 1300 655 266 to find out their obligations under the law."

       Fact File

• This is McDonalds' fifth conviction for breaches of this law, with the previous four convictions occurring in 2007

• The previous convictions related to the unlawful employment of 42 children between July 2006 and February 2007 and resulted in fines totalling $88,000

•  Under the Act, it is lawful for fast food industry employers to employ children aged 13 to 15, but they are not permitted to work before 6am or later than 10pm

• Breaches of the Act attract penalties of $120,000 if the employer is a body corporate

Minister's office - 6552 5600