Three La Panadería bakery locations in San Antonio fined over child labor, wage violations
La Panaderia Bakery & Café
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Federal authorities have recovered thousands of dollars in back wages and civil penalties from the operators of three San Antonio-area bakeries after an investigation uncovered child labor, minimum wage, and overtime violations.
La Panaderia Bakery & Café fined
What we know:
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division announced the findings following an investigation into three La Panaderia Bakery & Café locations operated under Tequila Almond Croissant LLC, Pan Dulce LLC, and SA Bakery Co. LLC.
In total, the businesses paid more than $45,000 in back wages and penalties, according to the Department of Labor.
Investigators found that the employers violated child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act by employing a 13-year-old—below the legal age for employment—and allowing a 15-year-old minor to work overnight shifts, which is prohibited for 14- and 15-year-olds. The department assessed $25,706 in civil money penalties for the child labor infractions.
La Panaderia Bakery & Café
The investigation also identified minimum wage and overtime pay violations across the business operations. Officials said the owners failed to pay one employee for two overnight shifts at the La Cantera location on Fiesta Texas Drive. Additionally, the operators failed to combine hours for staff working at multiple locations, paying straight-time rates instead of the required time-and-a-half rate for overtime hours worked.
The violations affected La Panaderia locations on East Houston Street, Fiesta Texas Drive, and Broadway.
Department of Labor officials encouraged employers to utilize agency compliance toolkits and self-reporting programs to resolve potential wage and hour issues before enforcement actions occur.
The other side:
La Panaderia Bakery & Café provided the following response to FOX Local:
At La Panadería, we take our responsibility as an employer seriously and are committed to providing a workplace that complies with all applicable labor laws while supporting the well-being of every member of our team. The U.S. Department of Labor's announcement relates to matters from 2024. While the announcement was issued this week, the underlying issues have already been resolved.
The allegations of child labor law violations were investigated and found to be the result of circumstances outside of management’s knowledge. The minors referenced in the Department of Labor’s violations were two minors accompanying their parents to work without leadership’s knowledge or approval. We do not hire minors under the legal working age, and the two minors identified were not on our payroll.
La Panadería has taken meaningful steps to strengthen our organization by working with experienced labor and human resources consultants and enhancing our internal policies, training, and compliance practices. We continue to provide meaningful careers to our workforce in excess of the standards set by law.
As a business rooted in our community, our employees are at the center of everything we do. We will continue learning, improving, and working every day to better serve our employees, customers, and community.
The Source: Information in this article is from the US Department of Labor.