Western Wats Pays $500k over Child Labor Case

US data collection firm Western Wats has paid $500,000 to settle charges imposed on it for child labor law violations, following a Department of Labor (DOL) investigation. The penalty is one of the highest ever imposed on a US company.

Last year, the DOL levied the fine after identifying breaches in laws relating to time and hours standards worked by young people under the age of 16. Three of the minors were aged 13.

The young people had primarily been conducting market research and political surveys from Western Wats' call centers in Utah, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. However, the firm said that one 13-year-old, who was stuffing envelopes, is the daughter of a corporate executive.

Western Wats explained that the violations were 'solely technical in nature', and occurred when the minors clocked out late, or worked longer than allowed by law. If such a young person clocked out even 5 minutes late, that was seen as an infraction, the firm said in a statement.

The firm also explained that long before the DOL had conducted an audit on its workforce, Western Wats had implemented new policies and procedures to ensure this type of violation could never happen again. Additionally, Western Wats stated that it now employs only individuals 18 and older.

'We have always been committed to being the best-in-class employer, as well as the best-in-class research provider and partner to our clients, and we want to reaffirm that commitment. We have worked, and will continue to work, unstintingly to make sure that is the case in every instance,' the company added.

The issue was 'settled, without admission of liability' in December 2009.

The firm - which also owns online panel firm Opinion Outposts - is online at: www.westernwats.com .