Brief: Smith’s grocery chain to pay $650,000 fine for child labor

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 1998 | 2:10 a.m.

The fine was announced Monday afternoon by the U.S. Department of Labor. Smith's entered into a consent agreement that was approved by U.S. District Court Judge Tena Campbell on Friday.

The Utah-based grocery chain, with 172 stores in eight western states, illegally employed 745 teenagers in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho New Mexico and Nevada, the labor department said. Smith's is a subsidiary of Fred Meyer Inc. of Portland, Ore.

Most of the violations involved the teenagers working hours not allowed by law, and 25 involved them doing work considered hazardous.

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