Labor Department accuses over a dozen Pittsburgh-area McDonald's of child labor violations

Over a dozen McDonald's franchises in the Pittsburgh area have reportedly been engaging in child labor violations, the U.S. Department of Labor claimed this week. 

The Labor Department said in a press release that a "federal investigation has found child labor violations involving 101 minor-aged workers at 13 McDonald’s locations in the greater Pittsburgh area operated."

The outlets were operated by Santonastasso Enterprises LLC, a Bridgeville-based enterprise, the press release said. 

The restaurants allegedly "permitted 14-and-15-year-old employees to work outside permissible hours," including "more than 18 hours a week during a regular school week" and "later than 9 p.m." during the summer. 

The franchisee "paid a civil money penalty of $57,332 assessed by the division for the violations," the department said.