2 weeks Ago
BOSTON — Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued $140,000 in fines against Cafua Management Company LLC, the operator of multiple Dunkin’ franchise locations — including several restaurants in Lowell, Billerica, Westford, Dracut, Chelmsford, Tyngsboro, and Burlington — for violating state child labor laws. Investigators found that between February 2020 and February 2023 Cafua Management Company failed to obtain work permits before employing minors, allowed them to work beyond the state’s legal limits of nine hours per day, and permitted them to work without adult supervision after 8 p.m.
, according to a press release from Campbell’s office. The release states that the franchise operator, which manages more than 80 Dunkin’ restaurants, agreed to the $140,000 settlement with Campbell’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 in the release.
“My office will continue to enforce these laws to empower our youth and remind employers that Massachusetts is serious about protecting its workforce.” The penalties are part of a larger $226,385 enforcement effort that also targeted McDonald’s and Subway franchise operators. Campbell’s office issued $63,930 in penalties to The Brewster Company LLC, which operates eight McDonald’s restaurants in Everett, Hanover, Woburn, Weymouth, Quincy, Norwell, Malden, and Revere.
The penalties were for violations involving minor employees between May 2021 and May 2024, the same as those committed by Cafua Management Company. Knight Food Service Inc., which operates multiple Subway franchise locations, including one in Brockton, was fined $22,455 for child labor violations the same as those committed by Cafua and Brewster, as well as for breaking wage and hour laws.
Campbell’s office alleges that the franchise operator failed to provide meal breaks for minors working more than six hours a day and neglected to maintain proper payroll records. The violations occurred between February 2023 and August 2024. Attempts by The Sun to contact Cafua Management Company and The Brewster Company were unsuccessful.
A woman who said she represented Knight Food Service in a phone call with The Sun denied that any Subway locations had violated child labor laws. Before The Sun could get more information, including her name, she abruptly ended the call. Workers who believe their workplace rights have been violated can file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division at mass.
gov/ago/fld . For more information about the state’s employment laws, workers may call the Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465 or visit mass.gov/ago/fairlabor .
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
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