A franchisee of the McDonald’s fast food banner is accused of violating child labor laws at several of its Pittsburgh-area restaurants in the United States.
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This is what we are told CNN and the washington post Tuesday morning on their platforms.
Santonastasso Enterprises, which operates McDonald’s locations in the Pittsburgh area, allowed 14- and 15-year-olds to work more than three hours after 7 p.m. on school days, after 9 p.m. in the summer and over the number hours allowed during school and non-school days, according to the Department of Labor.
The agency also accused the company of illegally employing young people for more than eight hours a day on weekends and more than 18 hours a week during school weeks.
In one case, a minor was even allowed to illegally operate a fryer without the proper safety equipment.
“Allowing young workers to work excessive hours can compromise their safety, well-being and education,” Labor Department official John Dumont said in the washington post.
“Employers who hire young workers must understand and comply with federal child labor laws or face costly consequences,” he adds.
In a statement provided by McDonald’s and picked up by CNNJohn and Kathleen Santonastasso, owners of Santonastasso Enterprises, say “We take our role as a local employer very seriously and regret any scheduling issues that may have arisen at our restaurants.”
“Our highest priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees and we have since implemented a series of new processes to ensure employees are scheduled appropriately,” they explain.