The operator of the McDonald’s in Warren and six others in Erie has been cited for violations of child labor laws.

The violations — between June 21, 2020, and June 12, 2022 — involved 154 minors — ages 14 and 15 — at the seven stores, according to a Wednesday release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Of those 154 minors, 27 worked at the Warren McDonald’s.

The situation was investigated by the department’s Wage and Hour Division.

The stores are operated by the Erie-based DuCharme Organization, according to the department.

“The DuCharme Organization and owner Thomas DuCharme Jr. paid $92,107 in civil penalties for the violations,” according to the release.

“A federal investigation has found the franchise operator of seven McDonald’s locations in Erie and Warren illegally allowed 154 minors, ages 14- and 15-years-old, to work at times not permitted by child labor laws and for more hours per week than allowed,” according to the release. “The employer also assigned nine workers under age 16 to operate deep fryers in violation of federal law.”

The child labor provisions in question are set in the Fair Labor Standards Act.

“Specifically, the division found the employer permitted the minors to work illegally as follows:

¯ Before 7 a.m., more than 3 hours per day and after 7 p.m. on school days;

¯ Later than 9 p.m. on days between June 1 and Labor Day, when they may legally work until 9 p.m.; and

¯ More than 8 hours on a non-school day, and more than 18 hours a week during a regular school week.”

“Investigators also learned nine minors under the age of 16 were allowed to operate deep fryers at two of the employers’ locations in violation of federal regulations for occupational standards for 14- and 15-year-olds,” according to the department. “Workers under the age of 16 are prohibited from using manual deep fryers not equipped with automatic fry baskets that move food into and out of cooking oil or grease.”

The violations related to the fryers were not at the Warren store, according to the department.

Child-labor-law violations have been on the rise.

“Since 2018, we have seen an alarming increase in the number of young workers employed in violation of federal child labor laws,” Wage and Hour District Director John DuMont said. “Every employer who hires young workers must know when they can and cannot work, the types of jobs they can do and what tasks they can be safely assigned.”

Attempts to reach McDonald’s for comment were unsuccessful.