A McDonald's franchise operating in Louisiana and Texas has found itself in serious trouble after violating child labor laws. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, CLB Investments LLC, which manages 12 restaurants in metro New Orleans, employed more than 80 minors in direct violation of federal regulations. These young workers, aged between 14 and 15, were allowed to work beyond the permitted hours and times as stipulated by the law. To add to the concern, the investigations also revealed that three children were operating manual deep fryers, a clear violation as such tasks are strictly prohibited for employees under the age of 16.

As a consequence of these egregious violations, the franchise was imposed with a substantial civil penalty of $56,106. The Labor Department did not hold back in emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, making it clear that the safety, well-being, and education of young workers should never be compromised by any employer.

This is not the first instance where McDonald's franchises have faced scrutiny for child labor violations. In a separate incident earlier this year, federal investigations uncovered three McDonald’s franchise operators in four states who were found guilty of violating child labor laws, impacting over 300 children, some as young as 10 years old, across 62 locations.

In response to these alarming revelations, Tiffanie Boyd, Chief People Officer of McDonald’s USA, issued a statement acknowledging the severity of the issue and reaffirming the company's commitment to ensuring full compliance with all labor laws.

Taking steps to rectify the situation, Chris Bardell, the owner/operator of the implicated New Orleans locations, has implemented mandatory child labor law trainings for his restaurant managers and instituted regular audits to ensure strict adherence to labor regulations.

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