Pennsylvania Settles With Walmart Over Child Labor
The $7.8 million agreement follows state audits that found repeated child labor violations at Walmart stores across the Commonwealth.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Unions
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Pennsylvania has reached a $7.8 million settlement with Walmart over child labor violations at its stores. Walmart will pay $7.68 million in new administrative penalties, on top of $142,785 in fines previously paid after initial state investigations.
Why it matters
The settlement shows state regulators expanding an enforcement action from individual store locations to a statewide scope. Its required oversight measures and doubled penalties for future infractions apply to all Pennsylvania Walmart stores.
State audits at eight Walmart locations found an average of 65 Child Labor Act violations per audit, including failing to secure required work permits and withholding legally required rest breaks. The total number of minors affected and the extent of violations at unaudited stores were not stated.
The players
Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry
The state agency responsible for enforcing labor laws in Pennsylvania, including its child labor protections for minors working in the state.
Walmart
The largest private employer in the United States, operating retail stores across the country including throughout Pennsylvania.
The details
Investigators began looking into Walmart after referrals from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation reported injured minors working at store locations. The Department of Labor & Industry's Bureau of Labor Law Compliance began its investigation in February 2025 and later expanded it from individual locations into a statewide enforcement action.
Timeline
February 2025: State investigation of Walmart began.
Six months after the settlement: Walmart must submit minor employment records for selected stores.
One year after the settlement: Walmart must submit a second round of minor employment records.
Legal Context
The settlement enforces the Pennsylvania Child Labor Act against a single large employer across its statewide store network. Doubling fines for repeat infractions adds a deterrent beyond the standard penalty figure set by the Department of Labor & Industry.
Families with teenagers working at Pennsylvania Walmart stores may see stricter enforcement of work permits and rest break rules. The settlement's oversight requirements are designed to apply to all Pennsylvania Walmart locations.
The takeaway
Workers under 18 are protected by specific permit, hour, and break rules, and enforcement can extend well beyond a single store. Readers working or hiring minors can review the state's child labor requirements through the Department of Labor & Industry.
What happens next
Walmart must submit employment records for minors at selected stores six months and one year after the settlement.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore more Pennsylvania Unions reporting.
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