A Louisville-based franchisee of six area McDonald's was ordered to pay a civil penalty for violating child labor requirements.According to a release from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, NPT Partners, violated child labor requirements by employing 14 and 15-year-old employees to work outside legally approved hours. They also allowed the teenagers to work more hours than allowed by law.An investigation found that 66 minors worked more than three hours on a school day or more than eight hours on a non-school day. Employers were also penalized for allowing 14-and 15-year-old employees to work a "hazardous occupation." The workers operated deep fryers not equipped with devices that automatically lower and raise the baskets into and out of the hot oil.WHD also found NPT violated the minimum wage requirement when it made an illegal deduction from an employee’s pay for a cash register shortage, which caused the worker’s earnings to drop below the federal minimum hourly wage. “Child labor laws exist to strike a balance between providing meaningful work experience for young people and keeping them safe on the job while not interfering with their educational opportunities,” said WHD District Director, Karen Garnett-Civils.NPT was forced to pay a civil penalty of $48,258 for violating child labor requirements. In addition, the franchisee has paid $20,015 in wages to eight employees for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements. NPT Partners, McDonald’s local owner-operator, sent WLKY the following response:“The well-being and safety of our restaurant employees that serve our customers each day is among our top priorities. We take these matters very seriously and are committed to adhering to all federal, state, and local youth employment laws moving forward."

A Louisville-based franchisee of six area McDonald's was ordered to pay a civil penalty for violating child labor requirements.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, NPT Partners, violated child labor requirements by employing 14 and 15-year-old employees to work outside legally approved hours.


They also allowed the teenagers to work more hours than allowed by law.

An investigation found that 66 minors worked more than three hours on a school day or more than eight hours on a non-school day. Employers were also penalized for allowing 14-and 15-year-old employees to work a "hazardous occupation."

The workers operated deep fryers not equipped with devices that automatically lower and raise the baskets into and out of the hot oil.

WHD also found NPT violated the minimum wage requirement when it made an illegal deduction from an employee’s pay for a cash register shortage, which caused the worker’s earnings to drop below the federal minimum hourly wage.

“Child labor laws exist to strike a balance between providing meaningful work experience for young people and keeping them safe on the job while not interfering with their educational opportunities,” said WHD District Director, Karen Garnett-Civils.

NPT was forced to pay a civil penalty of $48,258 for violating child labor requirements. In addition, the franchisee has paid $20,015 in wages to eight employees for violating minimum wage and overtime requirements.

NPT Partners, McDonald’s local owner-operator, sent WLKY the following response:

“The well-being and safety of our restaurant employees that serve our customers each day is among our top priorities. We take these matters very seriously and are committed to adhering to all federal, state, and local youth employment laws moving forward."