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Washington State Officials Accuse Two Men of Breaking Child Labor Laws.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News September 24, 1999 | Szymanski, Jim Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Sep. 23 — The state has sued a Tacoma man and his former business partner for allegedly breaking child labor laws and coaching children to make false claims in the door-to-door sales of candy.

“These are not charities providing drug- and crime-prevention programs for children,” Attorney General Christine Gregoire said in announcing the lawsuit Wednesday.

“These are individuals exploiting children to sell candy for a profit.” The King County lawsuit accuses Tyval Tate of Tacoma and Paridon Paul Williams of Seattle with breaking child labor laws by sending unsupervised children as young as 11 out to sell candy under the guise of helping Boys & Girls Clubs in Tacoma, Federal Way and Kent. in our site child labor laws

Instead of helping charities, Gregoire said, the children get paid about $1.50 for each $6 box of candy they sell, typically door-to-door or in front of stores. The organizers keep the rest for themselves or to meet expenses associated with the venture, she said.

“These children are often dumped in neighborhoods, some as far away as Portland, and left on their own,” Gregoire said.

“Parents of these children are sometimes duped as well, believing their children are adequately supervised and participating in a charitable operation.” Williams could not be reached for comment.

But Tate, 23, said he spent about a month trying to learn the business from Williams about three years ago, then decided to get out of it.

“I didn’t have the money to finance the van or to buy the candy,” Tate said.

“I don’t know what to tell you except that in me, they’ve got the wrong person.” According to the state Department of Labor and Industries, the minimum age children can work in nonagricultural jobs without a court order is 14. State laws also require a supervising adult to be in contact with a working child every 15 minutes, something Gregoire alleged that neither Williams nor Tate did.

Greg Mowat, in charge of employment standards for the state Department of Labor and Industries, said neither Williams nor Tate had a proper business license to operate the business, known as Team USA.

Mowat said candy sellers such as the two defendants typically recruit children through classmates, from youth clubs or through church groups.

Williams and Tate were not using proper forms seeking permission of parents to allow their children to sell the candy, Mowat said.

“They could be doing good things for the kids if they were operating the businesses legally,” he said. “In this case, the employers did not have proper work permits.” Gregoire and Mowat said they pursued their case because of their concern for the safety of the children.

“They’re not given the proper supervision,” Mowat said. “Who knows who’s behind some of their doors they knock on?” In August, Gregoire obtained a signed agreement from similar candy peddlers operating in Snohomish County. Under the threat of $20,000 in civil fines, those operators agreed to follow state child labor laws and stop making claims that the candy sales were helping youth programs. go to website child labor laws

Lynda Holland, a block-watch captain from Marysville, spurred the Snohomish County investigation when a child knocked on her door after dark about two years ago.

“He didn’t even know who his supervisor was,” Holland said. “All he knew was that her name was Sue. I called 911.” WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The attorney general’s office gives these tips for recognizing legitimate candy sales:

– Many charities do not pay children for sales efforts. Ask if the children receive any money for sales. If they do, chances are they’re not representing a charity.

– Don’t buy if the children cannot produce the minor’s Washington State Department of Labor and Industries identification card.

– Ask if the children are being supervised by an adult, where that adult is, and if there is a way the adult can be contacted. You might consider contacting that person on your own.

– Beware of organizations that have children selling products at your door during unreasonable hours, before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

– Children selling candy for legitimate charities should be carrying literature to explain the charity, be carrying a familiar logo or insignia, and might be wearing a recognizable uniform.

Szymanski, Jim