The three franchisees were cited for violating child labor laws at more than 88 locations, Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in a news release on Tuesday, April 15. The companies punished were Cafua Management Company, The Brewster Company, and Knight Food Service.
The trio faces a combined $226,385 in penalties under separate settlements with the fair labor division of the attorney general’s office.
“Our child labor laws exist to protect young workers and prioritize their safety and education as they learn new skills, earn income, and contribute to their communities,” Campbell said. “My office will continue to enforce these laws to empower our youth and remind employers that Massachusetts is serious about protecting its workforce.”
Cafua, which runs more than 80 Dunkin’ locations statewide, was fined $140,000 after investigators found the company failed to obtain work permits, allowed minors to work prohibited hours, and scheduled teens to work beyond the legal nine-hour daily limit. Minors were also left unsupervised after 8 p.m., in violation of state law.
Locations impacted include restaurants in Billerica, Burlington, Charlestown, Chelmsford, Chicopee, Danvers, Dracut, Fall River, Grafton, Great Barrington, Lawrence, Lee, Lowell, Medford, Methuen, Millbury, North Andover, North Billerica, Peabody, Pittsfield, Salisbury, Saugus, Somerville, Stoneham, Tyngsboro, Westborough, Westford, and Worcester.
Brewster, which operates eight McDonald’s locations, was fined $63,930. Between May 2021 and May 2024, minors worked without required permits, during prohibited hours, and for more than nine hours per day.
The restaurants cited are in Everett, Hanover, Malden, Norwell, Quincy, Revere, Weymouth, and Woburn.
Knight, which runs several Subway locations, was fined $22,455 for child labor and wage violations. From February 2023 to August 2024, the company failed to secure work permits, exceeded hourly limits, and scheduled minors to work unsupervised at night.
Campbell’s office also cited Knight for failing to provide required meal breaks and employment records. At least one of the violations occurred in Brockton.
State law limits 16- and 17-year-olds to nine hours of work per day, six days per week. Employers must obtain work permits and provide supervision and breaks as required.
Campbell also said her office has issued more than $4.9 million in child labor-related fines affecting more than 22,000 young workers statewide since January 2023.
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