In cases where an employee under a certain age is injured and illegally employed at the time of injury, the entire compensation otherwise recoverable shall be increased by what percent?

• A. 5%
• B. 10%
• C. 15%
• D. 20%

Answer: (A)

When a worker is injured and was illegally employed as a minor, California’s workers’ compensation rules impose a penalty to deter illegal child labor. The statute specifies that the entire amount of compensation the employee would otherwise recover is increased by 5 percent. This modest penalty goes to retaliate against the employer’s illegal conduct and to help ensure compliance with labor laws, while still providing the injured worker with the standard benefits plus the extra 5% as a deterrent. The other percentages aren’t used for this specific situation, which is why 5% is the correct figure.