Child Labor Law Summaries
7-1500Connecticut, Child Labor Law SummariesConnecticut's child labor law is located in the General Statutes of Connecticut at Title 31, Chapter 557, Parts I and II (for full text, see Wages-Hours 7-45,021 et seq. ). Corresponding regulations are located in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies at Title 31.
COVERAGE
Connecticut's child labor law generally covers persons employing minors.
EXCEPTIONS
The prohibited occupation and certificate of age provisions of Connecticut's child labor law (see below) generally do not apply to agricultural employment, domestic service, street trades or the distribution of newspapers (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Also, the prohibited occupation provisions do not apply to any minor over the age of 14 who is under vocational probation pursuant to an order of the superior court or to any minor over the age of 14 who has been placed on vocational parole by the Commissioner of Children and Families (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
The hours restrictions of Sec. 31-12 (see below) do not apply to permanent salaried employees in executive, administrative or professional positions, or to persons under 18 who have graduated from a secondary educational institution (Sec. 31-12, as amended by P.A. 98-210 (H. 5481), L. 1998, effective October 1, 1998).
The hours restrictions of Sec. 31-13 (see below) do not apply to permanent salaried employees in executive, managerial or supervisory positions excepted from the provisions of Connecticut's minimum wage law (see 7-1000 ) who receive a regular salary of not less than the minimum fixed for such employment in any wage order or administrative regulation issued under the minimum wage law, or to persons under 18 who have graduated from a secondary educational institution (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
The hours restrictions of Sec. 31-18 (see below) do not apply to any person under 18 who has graduated from a secondary educational institution (Sec. 31-18, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Apprentices. --The prohibited occupation and certificate of age provisions of Connecticut's child labor law (see below) generally do not apply to the employment or enrollment of minors 16 years of age and over as apprentices in bona fide apprenticeship courses in manufacturing or mechanical establishments, vocational schools or public schools, or to the employment of such minors who have graduated from a public or private secondary or vocational school, in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment or to the enrollment of such minors in a cooperative work-study program approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner or in a Connecticut career certificate program (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
WHAT THE EMPLOYER MUST DO
Generally, Connecticut employers may employ minors in nonhazardous occupations if a certificate of age is secured, and certain hours restrictions are met.
Prohibited employment
No minor under 16 years of age may be employed or permitted to work in any manufacturing, mechanical, mercantile or theatrical industry, restaurant or public dining room, or in any bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment or barber shop, provided the Labor Commissioner may authorize such employment of any minor between the ages of 14 and 16 who is enrolled in (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007):
(1) a public school in a work-study program as defined and approved by the Commissioner of Education and the Labor Commissioner or in a Connecticut career certificate program; or
(2) a summer work-recreation program sponsored by a town, city or borough or by a human resources development agency that has been approved by the Labor Commissioner.
Hazardous occupations --minors under 16. --Except in state vocational schools or in public schools teaching manual training, no child under 16 years of age may be employed or permitted to work in adjusting or assisting in adjusting any belt upon any machine, or in oiling or assisting in oiling, wiping or cleaning machinery, while power is attached, or in preparing any composition in which dangerous acids are used, or in soldering, or in the manufacture or packing of paints, dry colors or red or white lead, or in the manufacture, packing or storing of gun or blasting powder, dynamite, nitroglycerine compounds, safety fuses in the raw or unvarnished state, electric fuses for blasting purposes or any other explosive, or in the manufacture or use of any dangerous or poisonous gas or dye, or composition of lye in which the quantity of lye is injurious to health, or upon any scaffolding, or in any heavy work in any building trade or in any tunnel, mine or quarry, or in operating or helping to operate any emery, stone or buffing wheel; and, except as otherwise provided regarding employment in mercantile establishments, no child under 16 years of age may be employed or permitted to work in any capacity requiring the child to stand continuously (Sec. 31-24, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Hazardous occupations --minors under 18. --No minor under the age of 18 may be employed or permitted to work in any occupation that has been pronounced hazardous to health by the Department of Public Health or pronounced hazardous in other respects by the Labor Department (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
The employment of minors under 18 years of age in the following industries that are declared hazardous by the Connecticut State Labor Department, is prohibited, unless an investigation by a representative of the Division of Factory Inspection discloses that either a specific operation of a particular occupation or the conditions under which a particular occupation is performed are not unduly hazardous and the employer has received written approval of such specific operation or employment conditions from the State Labor Department (Conn AgenciesRegs, Sec. 31-23-1):
(1) automotive maintenance and repair;
(2) beverage bottling;
(3) brick manufacturing (excluding hand turning);
(4) cement manufacturing;
(5) chemicals manufacturing;
(6) clay products and tile;
(7) coke and tar products manufacturing;
(8) concrete products and cinder block manufacturing;
(9) construction;
(10) dry cleaning (machine operation);
(11) experimental testing or control laboratories;
(12) explosives and fireworks manufacturing;
(13) fertilizer manufacturing;
(14) food products (processing);
(15) grain and feed processing;
(16) ice manufacturing;
(17) laundering (machinery operation);
(18) leather products manufacturing;
(19) logging and lumber manufacturing and operations in any saw mill, shingle mill and cooperage stock mill;
(20) meat products manufacturing;
(21) mining (underground and surface);
(22) paint and varnish manufacturing;
(23) paper and paperboard manufacturing;
(24) paper products manufacturing;
(25) pharmaceuticals manufacturing;
(26) plastic and plastic products manufacturing;
(27) power-driven woodworking machines;
(28) printing;
(29) rayon manufacturing;
(30) rubber products manufacturing;
(31) scrap metal salvaging;
(32) sewing machine operations using needles over 1/16 inch diameter;
(33) smelting, rolling, casting and processing of metals;
(34) stone cutting and processing;
(35) storage battery manufacturing;
(36) synthetic rubber manufacturing;
(37) tanning;
(38) textile machinery operation;
(39) tire recapping, vulcanizing and manufacturing;
(40) wrecking and demolition.
The provisions of this section do not apply to work study programs, apprentices in bona fide apprenticeship courses, office workers and those not directly a part of, or in contact with production operations, unless the occupations, as such, have been declared hazardous (Conn AgenciesRegs, Sec. 31-23-1).
Light bench work or assembly, where the operations performed do not require the use of power-driven tools (except screw drivers, wrenches, etc.), are considered nonhazardous provided they do not involve the use of or exposure to corrosives, flammables, toxic materials or electrical current in excess of 110 volts and 15 amperes (Conn AgenciesRegs, Sec. 31-23-1).
The following occupations, in all industries, are declared hazardous and such employment of minors under 18 years of age is prohibited, unless an investigation by a representative of the Division of Factory Inspection discloses that the conditions under which the occupation is performed are not unduly hazardous and the employer has received written approval of such employment conditions from the State Labor Department (Conn AgenciesRegs, Sec. 31-23-1):
(1) abrasive wheel operation;
(2) bakery machine operation;
(3) baler operator or helper;
(4) boiler or engine room occupation;
(5) brazing;
(6) centrifugal machine operators (including whizzers and extractors);
(7) occupations involving the use of cranes, derricks or hoists;
(8) occupations involving the use of electrical circuits, tools or equipment (excluding double-insulated tools);
(9) electrical equipment, installation, maintenance and repair;
(10) electrical testing;
(11) elevator operation (except an unattended automatic passenger elevator) (see also "Elevators" below);
(12) repair or maintenance of power-driven hoisting apparatus;
(13) flame cutting;
(14) exposure to flammable, toxic or corrosive materials;
(15) fork lift or tiering truck operator;
(16) glazing and glass cutting;
(17) hair and fur processing;
(18) heat treater or helper;
(19) occupation involving climbing or working on ladder;
(20) operation of fixed or portable metal working machinery;
(21) oiler machinery;
(22) use of portable power-driven machinery;
(23) powder-actuated hand tools;
(24) presses (foot, hand or power), operation of air, oil, water, electric, belt;
(25) driven-or spring-actuated metal forming, punching and shearing machines;
(26) press brakes (excluding hand brakes under 24 inches);
(27) pressure testing;
(28) exposure to radioactive substance and ionization radiation;
(29) riveting, grommeting or eyeletting operation;
(30) operation of power-driven rolls;
(31) sand blast operator;
(32) shear operator (hand, foot, power);
(33) soldering (exception by investigation);
(34) spray painting or dipping;
(35) stranding machine operator;
(36) tumbler operator;
(37) vehicle driver or helper (excluding 3/4 ton or less);
(38) welding;
(39) woodworking machinery, fixed or portable, operation or helper.
The provisions of this section do not apply to work study programs, apprentices in bona fide apprenticeship courses, office workers and those not directly a part of, or in contact with production operations (Conn AgenicesRegs, Sec. 31-23-1).
Elevator operation. --No person under 16 years of age may be employed or permitted to have the care, custody, operation or management of an elevator. No person under 18 may be employed or permitted to have the care, custody, management or operation of an elevator, either for freight or passengers, running at a speed of over 200 feet per minute (Sec. 31-25, as amended by P.A. 97-263 (H. 6630), L. 1997, effective October 1, 1997).
Permitted employment --specific occupations
Effective June 6, 2006, a minor who has reached the age of 14 may be employed or permitted to work as a caddie or in a pro shop at any municipal or private golf course, and a minor who has reached the age of 15 may be employed or permitted to work in any mercantile establishment, from September 30, 2002, to September 20, 2007, inclusive, as a bagger, cashier or stock clerk, provided such employment must be (Sec. 31-23(b)(1), as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006):
(1) limited to periods of school vacation during which school is not in session for five consecutive days or more, except that such minor employed in a retail food store may work on any Saturday during the year;
(2) for not more than 40 hours in any week;
(3) for not more than eight hours in any day; and
(4) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., except that from July first to the first Monday in September in any year, any such minor may be employed until 9:00 p.m.
Hours of work
Manufacturing or mechanical establishments. --Persons under the age of 18 who are not enrolled in and have not graduated from a secondary educational institution may not be employed in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment more than nine hours in any day or 48 hours in any calendar week. If the Labor Commissioner finds, upon application of an employer, that an emergency exists or that seasonal or peak demand places an unusual and temporary burden upon any manufacturing or mechanical establishment, any such person may be employed in such establishment not more than 10 hours in any day nor more than 55 hours in any calendar week, but the total number of weeks of any such employment in any 12 consecutive months must not exceed 12. With respect to any group, category or class of employees for which a workweek of less than five days has been established or agreed upon, the employer must adhere to the applicable weekly limitation period, but may extend the number of hours per day for each day of the shortened workweek, provided the number of hours is the same for each day of the workweek. In the event of war or other national emergency, the commissioner may, with the approval of the governor, extend the number of weeks of any such employment if such extension is necessary to meet scheduled production of war or critical material (Sec. 31-12, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
No person under 18 may be employed in any manufacturing or mechanical establishment more than (1) six hours in any regularly scheduled school day, unless the regularly scheduled school day immediately precedes a nonschool day or eight hours in any other day, and (2) 32 hours in any calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is in session, or 48 hours in any calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is not in session. The number of hours such person participates in a work experience that is part of an approved educational plan, cooperative program or school-to-work program will not be counted against the daily or weekly limits set forth above (Sec. 31-12, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
See also "Night work" below.
Mercantile establishments. --Persons under the age of 18 who are not enrolled in and have not graduated from a secondary educational institution may not be employed in any mercantile establishment more than eight hours in any one day, or more than six days in any one calendar week or more than 48 hours in any one calendar week, but any such person may be permitted to work in any such establishment one day in any calendar week for not more than 10 hours, for the purpose of making one shorter day during the week, and any employer who, during any year, gives not fewer than seven holidays with pay is exempt from these hours restrictions during the period from the 18th to the 25th day of December of such year (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
If the Labor Commissioner finds, upon application of an employer, that an emergency exists or that seasonal or peak demand places an unusual and temporary burden upon any mercantile establishment, a person under age 18 may be employed in such establishment not more than 10 hours in any day nor more than 52 hours in any calendar week, but the total number of weeks of any such employment in any 12 months must not exceed eight (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
No person under 18 may be employed in any mercantile establishment more than (1) six hours in any regularly scheduled school day unless the regularly scheduled school day immediately precedes a nonschool day or eight hours in any other day, and (2) 32 hours in any calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is in session, or 48 hours in any other calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is not in session. The number of hours such person participates in a work experience that is part of an approved educational plan, cooperative program or school-to-work program will not be counted against the daily or weekly limits set forth above (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Other public establishments. --No public restaurant, cafe, dining room, barber shop, hairdressing or manicuring establishment, amusement or recreational establishment, bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment, billiard or pool room or photograph gallery may employ or permit any person under 18 to work, except minors who have graduated from a secondary educational institution, (1) between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., provided, any such person may be permitted to work in any such establishment one day in a week for not more than 10 hours on such day, but not more than six days or 48 hours in any one week; and (2) more than (a) six hours in any regularly scheduled school day unless the regularly scheduled school day immediately precedes a nonschool day or eight hours in any other day, and (b) 32 hours in any calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is in session or 48 hours in any other calendar week during which the school in which such person is enrolled is not in session. The number of hours such person participates in a work experience that is part of an approved educational plan, cooperative program or school-to-work program will not be counted against the daily or weekly limits set forth above (Sec. 31-18, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Persons between 16 and 18 years of age may be employed in any restaurant, cafe or dining room and in any amusement or recreational establishment, or employed in any theater until twelve o'clock midnight, unless such persons are regularly attending school, in which case they may be employed until 11:00 p.m. on days that precede a regularly scheduled school day and until twelve o'clock midnight during any regular school vacation season and on days that do not precede a regularly scheduled school day (Sec. 31-18, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Night work. --No person under 18 years of age, except those who have graduated from a secondary educational institution, may be employed in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except that such persons may be employed in any manufacturing, mechanical or mercantile establishment until 11:00 p.m. beginning October 1, 1998, or in any supermarket until twelve o'clock midnight on any night other than a night preceding a regularly scheduled school day. No such person may be discharged or discriminated against in any manner for refusing to work later than 10:00 p.m. In the event of war or other serious emergency, the governor may suspend the limitations upon evening or night work as to any industries or occupations as the governor finds that the emergency demands (Sec. 31-14, as amended by P.A. 98-210 (H. 5481), L. 1998, effective October 1, 1998).
No person under the age of 18 years, other than those who have graduated from a secondary educational institution, may be employed by any telegraph or messenger company, in cities having a population of 20,000 or over, to distribute, transmit or deliver goods or messages between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. (Sec. 31-16, as amended by P.A. 97-263 (H. 6630), L. 1997, effective October 1, 1997).
Certificate of age
Effective June 6, 2006, each person who employs a 14-year-old minor as a caddie or in a pro shop at any municipal or private golf course pursuant to this section shall obtain a certificate stating that such minor is 14 years of age or older, and each person who employs a 15-year-old minor in any mercantile establishment pursuant to this subsection shall obtain a certificate stating that such minor is 15 years of age or older. Such certificate shall be kept on file at the place of employment and shall be available at all times during business hours to the inspectors of the Labor Department (Sec. 31-23(b)(2)(A), as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006).
Each person who employs a minor under the age of 18 must obtain a certificate stating the age of such minor. Such certificates must be kept on file at the place of employment and must be available at all times during business hours to the inspectors of the Labor Department (Sec. 31-23(d), as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
The superintendent of schools of any local or regional board of education or an agent designated by such superintendent will, upon application, furnish to any person desiring to employ a minor under the age of 18 (Title 10, Ch. 168, Sec. 10-193(a), as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective June 6, 2006):
(1) in any manufacturing, mechanical or theatrical industry, restaurant or public dining room, or in any bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment or barber shop, a certificate showing that such minor is 16 or older,
(2) in any mercantile establishment, a certificate showing that such minor is 15 or older, and
(3) at any municipal or private golf course, a certificate showing that such minor is 14 or older.
Wages
See 7-1000 .
ENFORCEMENT
The Labor Commissioner enforces Connecticut's child labor law, investigating all complaints of violations of the law and reporting all cases of such violations to the prosecuting officer having jurisdiction (Sec. 31-22).
WHO TO CONTACT
Contact the Department of Labor at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT 06109-1114. Telephone: (860) 263-6000.
RECORDKEEPING
Certificates of age. --Certificates of age must be kept on file at the place of employment and must be available at all times during business hours to the inspectors of the Labor Department (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
POSTING
Hours of work: Mercantile establishments. --Each employer in a mercantile establishment must post in a conspicuous place in each room where persons under 18 are employed a notice, the form of which will be furnished by the Labor Commissioner, stating specifically the hours of work required of such persons on each day of the week, and that the employment of any such persons for a longer time than so stated is unlawful (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Other public establishments. --The hours of labor of persons under 18 working in such establishments must be conspicuously posted in such establishment in such form and manner as the Labor Commissioner determines (Sec. 31-18, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
PENALTIES
Civil penalties
Prohibited occupations. --Effective until January 1, 2007, any person, whether acting for himself or as an agent for another, who employs or authorizes or permits to be employed any minor in an occupation prohibited by Sec. 31-23 will be fined not more than $200. (This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2007) (Sec. 31-23, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Effective until January 1, 2007, any person, whether acting for himself or as agent for another, who employs or authorizes or permits to be employed any child in violation of any of the hazardous employment prohibitions of Sec. 31-24 will be fined not more than $200. (This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2007) (Sec. 31-24, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Any person, partnership or corporation employing a person under 16 in the care, custody, operation or management of an elevator will be fined not more than $50 for each offense. Also, any person, whether acting for himself or as agent for another, who authorizes or permits the employment of a person under 18 in the care, custody, management or operation of an elevator, either for freight or passengers, running at a speed of over 200 feet per minute will be fined not more than $200 (Sec. 31-25, as amended by P.A. 97-263 (H. 6630), L. 1997, effective October 1, 1997).
Any person, whether acting for himself or herself or as agent for another, who employs any minor under the age of 18 in any manufacturing, mechanical or theatrical industry, restaurant or public dining room, or in any bowling alley, shoe-shining establishment or barber shop, without having obtained a certificate showing that the minor is 16 or older will be fined not more than $100 (Title 10, Ch. 168, Secs. 10-193 and 10-194).
Effective January 1, 2007, any employer, officer, agent or other person who violates any provision of Secs. 31-12, 31-13, 31-14, 31-15(a), 31-18, 31-23, or 31-24, shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for each offense (Sec. 7, P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Hours of work. --Effective until January 1, 2007, any person who, or firm or corporation that, violates any of the hours provisions for minors working in manufacturing or mechanical establishments will be fined not more than $25 for the first offense, and will be fined not more than $100 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both for any subsequent offense. (This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2007) (Sec. 31-12, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Effective until January 1, 2007, any person who violates any provision of Connecticut's child labor law relating to hours of work for minors in mercantile establishments (see above) will be fined not more than $100 for each offense. (This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2007) (Sec. 31-13, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Effective until January 1, 2007, any person who willfully employs, or has in its employment or under its charge, any person in violation of the night work provisions of Sec. 31-14 (see above) and who permits any such person to be so employed will be fined not more than $50 for the first offense, and will be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than 30 days or both for any subsequent offense (Sec. 31-15(a), as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
The manager of the office of any corporation who violates the provisions of the child labor law dealing with night work by minors in messenger service will be fined not more than $50 for each day of such employment (Sec. 31-16, as amended by P.A. 97-263 (H. 6630), L. 1997, effective October 1, 1997).
Effective until January 1, 2007, any person who violates the hours of work provisions of Sec. 31-18, "Other public establishments" ) will be fined not more than $200 for each offense. (This provision is repealed effective January 1, 2007) (Sec. 31-18, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Any person who employs a child under 14 years of age during the hours while the school that the child should attend is in session, and any person who authorizes or permits on premises under his or her control any such child to be so employed, will be fined not more than $20 for each week in which such child is so employed (Title 10, Ch. 168, Sec. 10-197).
Effective January 1, 2007, any employer, officer, agent or other person who violates any provision of Secs. 31-12, 31-13, 31-14, 31-15(a), 31-18, 31-23, or 31-24, shall be fined not less than $2,000 nor more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, for each offense (Sec. 7, P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Additional penalties. --Effective until January 1, 2007, in addition to the penalties provided in Chapter 557 ("Employment Regulation"), this chapter (Chapter 558) and Ch. 568 (Workers' Compensation Act), any employer, officer, agent or other person who violates any provision of Chs. 557 or 558 or Sec. 31-288(g), shall be liable to the Labor Department for a civil penalty of $300 for each violation of said chapters and for each violation of Sec. 31-288(g). The Attorney General, upon complaint of the Labor Commissioner, shall institute a civil action to recover such civil penalty (Sec. 31-69a, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).
Effective January 1, 2007, in addition to the penalties provided Ch. 558 and Ch. 568 (Workers' Compensation Act), any employer, officer, agent or other person who violates any provision of Ch. 558 or Sec. 31-288(g), shall be liable to the Labor Department for a civil penalty of $300 for each violation of said chapters and for each violation of Sec. 31-288(g). In addition to the penalties provided in Ch. 558 and Ch. 557 ("Employment Regulation"), any employer, officer, agent or other person who violates any provision of Secs. 31-12, 31-13, 31-14, 31-15(a), 31-18, 31-23, or 31-24, shall be liable to the Labor Department for a civil penalty of $600 for each violation of said sections. The Attorney General, upon complaint of the Labor Commissioner, shall institute civil actions to recover the penalties provided for in this section (Sec. 31-69a, as amended by P.A. 06-139 (S. 58), L. 2006, effective January 1, 2007).