Following criticism of the Labor Department?s settlement of child labor complaints against 24 Wal-Mart stores, the inspector general has decided to investigate its agreement to give Wal-Mart Stores 15 days' notice before investigating any stores facing complaints of child labor violations. Child advocates and labor groups have argued that advance notice might enable Wal-Mart to interfere before an investigation was conducted.
See "Labor Dept. to Investigate Its Treatment of Wal-Mart", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, February 20, 2005