American Idol Tour Fined For Child Labor
Ha ha ha!!!! This was actually a little bit funny! Apparently, the American Idol tour organizers broke the law this year and have been fined $5,000 for 16 violations of the Child Labor Law. I guess there’s a law that states that a permit is required when employing persons under the age of 18. This would mean that the inclusion of Jordin Sparks and Sanjaya Malakar, both 17 years of age at the time the tour took place, was illegal!
The permits are necessary to make sure the “minors” are being “monitored and the company was complying with child labor, education and workers’ compensation regulations” which “mandates that at least 15% of what children earn goes into a trust fund where it is held for them until they turn 18.”
That’s kind of a ridiculous mistake to make, isn’t it? Well, I’m so glad that the “safety” of children is only worth $5,000. Sheesh! There are pets who cost more than that!
Tags: american idol, tour, idol, american, jordin, sparks, jordin sparks, sanjaya, malakar, sanjaya malakar, fine, child labor
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POSTED IN: Sanjaya Malakar, Thinking Idol
7 opinions for American Idol Tour Fined For Child Labor
gerriG
Oct 14, 2007 at 6:32 am
I knew about this law because it happened to my son.
~MotherNature
Oct 14, 2007 at 8:45 am
Funny because they violated Child labor laws?
..
…..
.. Or funny becuse kids are being exploited?
Ha Ha? *scratching head*
Jeanne
Oct 14, 2007 at 8:54 am
“Ha Ha” as in “That’s kind of a ridiculous mistake to make, isn’t it? Well, I’m so glad that the “safety” of children is only worth $5,000. Sheesh! There are pets who cost more than that!”
I’m guessing you didn’t read my final paragraph or, if you did read it, maybe you never laughed at a mistake by an experienced individual who made such a stupid mistake that you could not help but laugh? As a mother of three, I certainly don’t take joy in child exploitation (not that I *truly* believe it happened in this case but it definitely does happen).
karly
Oct 14, 2007 at 2:16 pm
haha, that’s so weird, kind of funny at the same time. & kind of sad .
Lauren(lolo)
Oct 14, 2007 at 4:07 pm
That’s so lame. Child labour? Dude, the way I see it those two signed up for Idol. What kind of person fines AI for child labour? That’s just stupid!
A'kyra
Oct 15, 2007 at 3:09 am
It’s not stupid to fine them…it’s the law. If a child is working and making money at a company then the child labor laws come into effect, it’s like that with any company that hires minors.
“Under the law, employers who use performers under 18 must register with the state to ensure compliance with all labor and workers’ compensation laws. They must also obtain an employment permit for each minor whose services they use.”
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/12/america/NA-GEN-US-American-Idol-Labor-Laws.php
Calling child labor laws stupid is just plain wrong and obviously people who don’t have children or have any regard for children will scoff at the mere mention of child labor laws, but the fact is, the law is written in plain english in black and white and they have to pay.
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/secure/child/cp_trusts.shtm
How would you feel if were your child that taken advantage of in some way by a company not following the “child labor” laws? Yes, they did sign up for AI but there is no law against that. They signed up, did well, and landed a job. Do you think that minors should not try to persue a career until they reach 18? Now that is stupid!
To Jeanne’s defense - Ha ha as in it was really interesting that a company as big as AI would overlook that. The way this piece was written, it wasn’t very hard to see that she was not in any way laughing at the idea of child exploitation.
gerriG - what happened to your son?
Also, it seems as though the only state they did not register with was NY. Jeanne, am I correct on this?
gerriG
Oct 16, 2007 at 11:17 am
This is to everyone who hasn;t voted yet. Help support this blogger by going to “hey nielsen”and vote for idol stalker. we only need 160 votes to take the lead.
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