Sears Settles Child-Labor Case

Sears, Roebuck & Co. has agreed to pay a $325,000 penalty to settle allegations it violated child labor laws by letting teenagers operate heavy machinery or work too many hours.

A U.S. Labor Department investigation found 227 children were working at Sears in violation of child labor law, spokeswoman Susan King said Friday.

In addition to paying the fine, the department store company agreed to audit its more than 800 major stores for problems each year.

In most cases, 16- and 17-year-olds were found loading and operating power-driven paper balers, a machine that flattens cardboard boxes, or operating freight elevators or fork lifts, King said. Under federal law, children are not permitted to operate this sort of hazardous equipment.