11 N.J. McDonald's locations hit with fines for child labor law violations

A McDonald's franchise owner has agreed to pay a fine after being accused of violating child labor laws at 11 locations in North Jersey.

S&P Enterprises Inc., based in Central Valley, New York, paid a penalty of $8,829 after letting 14 and 15-year-olds work too many hours at fast food eateries it owns in Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Union counties, the U.S. Department of Labor said in a statement.

The teens worked after 7 p.m. during the school year, more than three hours on a school day, more than eight hours on a non-school day, or more than 18 hours during a school week -- all exceeding the law's limits, an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the labor department found.

Teenagers who are 14 and 15 can work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours per week only when school is not in session, according to New Jersey law.

"Child labor laws protect the educational opportunities of minors, and ensure that their employment does not come at the expense of their health or well-being," the department said in a news release.

The McDonald's where the Department of Labor says the violations took place are:

  • Columbia Turnpike in Florham Park
  • Route 23 south in Butler
  • North Avenue in Elizabeth
  • Route 17 south in Mahwah
  • Berkshire Valley Road in Jefferson
  • Route 46 west in Montville
  • Route 1 in Rahway
  • St. George Avenue in Roselle
  • Route 10 east in Roxbury
  • Hamburg Turnpike in Wayne
  • Franklin Avenue in Wyckoff

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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