P.M. BRIEFING : Child Labor Violations Increase

WASHINGTON — Federal investigators who uncovered 7,000 child labor violations during a three-day sweep last month found an additional 4,000 infractions in a review of case files, the Labor Department said today.

Civil fines on the businesses involved are expected to total $2.9 million, up from the $1.8 million originally predicted following the March 12-15 sweep, said William Brooks, an assistant secretary of labor.

Most of the violations involved teen-agers working more hours or later hours during the school week than is allowed under federal law, the department said.

But there were also 1,450 youngsters age 14-17 who were illegally employed in dangerous jobs, such as using power-driven meat-slicing machinery, dough mixers and paper balers, the department said.