'American Idol' concert tour fined for child labor law violations

New York state labor officials said organizers of "American Idols Live Tour '07" violated child labor laws by letting underage teens perform without permits.

ADVERTISEMENT

Nineteen Touring LLC, which runs the national tour, failed to get the proper permits to hire and feature "Idol' winner Jordin Sparks and popular personality Sanjaya Malakar, department officials told the New York Daily News.

The company has agreed to pay $5,000 in fines after being confronted with 16 violations, the Daily News said.

RELATED LINKS American Idol 6 Cast Info American Idol 6 Show Info American Idol Message Boards RealityTVWorld: American Idol RealityTVWorld: American Idol 1 RealityTVWorld: American Idol 2 RealityTVWorld: American Idol 3 RealityTVWorld: American Idol 4 RealityTVWorld: American Idol 5 RealityTVWorld: American Idol 6 SirLinksALot: American Idol More Music News

Sparks was 17 when the tour played five dates in New York this summer.

Malakar turned 18 on Sept. 10, but was 17 during the New York tour dates.

A spokeswoman for 19 Touring had no immediate comment.

"This settlement should serve as a strong reminder that the Labor Department is aggressively enforcing the state's labor laws that protect all workers, especially children," Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith said in a statement.

Employers who use child performers are required to register with the state so they can be monitored as to whether they're complying with child labor, education and workers' compensation regulations, the News said.