AMC Entertainment fined in child labor case

KANSAS CITY - AMC Entertainment Inc. will pay a $141,570 fine for violating federal child labor laws.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday that the nation's second-largest theater operator also agreed to display a child labor public service announcement on workplace safety in each of its 296 U.S. theaters.

"Due to our proactive cooperation during the investigation, the Department of Labor rewarded us with a very reasonable fine," said Sun Dee Larson, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City-based company. "The PSA we have developed carries an educational message in an entertaining way, and we are hopeful it will help others learn about these somewhat obscure regulations."

The department said investigators in Missouri, New Jersey, Iowa and Louisiana found that some AMC employees younger than 18 were loading and operating trash compactors, which is prohibited. Investigators also found some children were working longer hours than allowed by law.

Federal regulations prohibit 14- and 15-year-olds from working after 7 p.m. on school nights and 9 p.m. during the summer and no more than 18 hours during a school week.