Wal-Mart child labor decision under review

[Syrinx]

WASHINGTON -- Labor Department investigators will review a $135,540
settlement the agency reached with Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's
biggest retailer, over accusations that it violated child labor laws.

The investigation was sought by Rep. George Miller. The California
Democrat criticized the deal made public Feb. 12 because it provides
that Wal-Mart will receive 15 days notice in most cases before the
Labor Department investigates employee complaints of wage and hour
violations.

Miller, the top Democrat on the House Education and Workforce
Committee, said the two-week window could give Wal-Mart the chance to
sweep violations under the rug.

``We plan to review the circumstances surrounding this agreement,''
Labor Department inspector general Gordon S. Heddell wrote in a letter
to Miller. The congressman's office released the letter Friday.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-050218childlabor,1,651930.story?coll=chi-business-hed

[Sporadicus]

1. Give Wal-Mart NOTHING!

If they're not interested in following the law, INTERCOURSE the deal! Let them move out or close down in every locality where they flaunt the law!

[Cocoa]

2. what justification could there be for the 2-week window?

give WalMart enough time to kill the whistleblower and dispose of the body?

[LostInAnomie]

4. The washintonmonthly.com says...

... that the reason is to provide them with a window to "fix" the problem by paying the child the wages they are due, and correct the scheduling problems. They get to do all this before the govt. moves in. Lucky them.

[Rex]

3. Corporate fascism

Who does our government work for? By Wal-Mart, for Wal-Mart.

[matt819]

5. Laughable

135,000 dollars. Didn't I see a report the other day that earnings last year were 10 billion dollars. Let's see, 135,000 is 0.0000135 of 10 billion.

For comparison purposes, let's say you had 1,000 dollars in your pocket. If you were punished and had to give someone .0000135 of that, it would amount to just a hair over a penny. I think that qualifies as even less than pocket change.

So the USG can be seen to be slapping walmart around, but they're laughing all the way to the bank.