Walmart to Pay $7.8 Million Over Pennsylvania Child Labor Violations

The settlement follows a state investigation that began in February 2025 after officials received complaints about minors being injured while working at Walmart. Investigators conducted 10 audits at eight Pennsylvania stores and found an average of 65 child labor violations per audit.

The violations included scheduling minors for more hours than state law allows, failing to provide required breaks and not obtaining required work permits. Investigators also found failures to notify school districts when minors were hired or dismissed.

Walmart has already paid $142,785 in fines. Under the settlement, it must pay an additional $7,686,786.16 in administrative penalties. The state said the investigation expanded beyond the audited stores after officials identified a pattern of violations.

Walmart also agreed to have managers at its Pennsylvania stores receive labor law training, make information about young workers’ rights available to employees and provide the state with records on minors’ employment at some stores. Settlement funds will support labor law education, enforcement and compliance.

Gov. Josh Shapiro called the action one of the largest child labor enforcement efforts in the nation’s history. Walmart said it was pleased to resolve the matter and has processes to support compliance with applicable laws.

Pennsylvania Holds Walmart Accountable for Child Labor Violations

Pennsylvania’s settlement sends a clear message that large employers must follow laws designed to protect young workers. State investigators found an average of 65 violations per audit across 10 audits at eight Walmart stores, including excessive hours, missed required breaks and missing work permits.

The investigation began in February 2025 after complaints about minors being injured at Walmart. Officials said they expanded their enforcement efforts statewide after finding a pattern at the audited locations. Walmart had already paid $142,785 in fines and must now pay another $7,686,786.16.

The company also must train managers at its Pennsylvania stores on labor laws, inform workers about their rights and provide employment records to the state for some locations. The settlement money will support labor law education, enforcement and compliance.

Gov. Josh Shapiro described the action as one of the largest child labor enforcement efforts in the nation’s history. Walmart said it has processes to support legal compliance. Those processes did not prevent the violations found by investigators, making meaningful oversight and the state’s future commitments essential to protecting young workers.

Walmart Settlement Puts Pennsylvania’s Labor Enforcement in Focus

Pennsylvania is imposing nearly $7.8 million in penalties on Walmart after audits found child labor law violations at eight stores. The case raises the stakes of state enforcement: investigators found an average of 65 violations per audit, including excessive hours, missed breaks and missing work permits.

The investigation started in February 2025 after complaints about minors injured at Walmart. The state says it widened its efforts after finding a pattern at the audited locations. Walmart has already paid $142,785 and will pay a further $7,686,786.16 under the settlement.

The agreement also requires manager training at Walmart’s Pennsylvania stores, information for workers about their rights and employment records for the state from some locations. The money is earmarked to advance labor-law education, enforcement and compliance.

Walmart said it was pleased to resolve the matter and that it reviews and improves processes intended to support compliance. The state’s case establishes the violations and the settlement’s obligations; it also underscores how far enforcement can extend beyond the stores initially audited. Gov. Josh Shapiro called the action one of the nation’s largest child labor enforcement efforts.