The U.S. Department of Labor says that a McDonald’s franchise owner had to pay nearly $9,000 in fines after child labor violations were found at 11 northern New Jersey locations.

S&P Enterprises Inc., based in Central Valley, New York, paid $8,829 in fines after an investigation by the northern New Jersey district offices of the Labor Department. 

The investigation found that S&P Enterprises Inc. employed 16 14- and 15-year-olds, who worked after 7:00 p.m. during the school year, more than three hours on a school day, more than eight hours on a non-school day, and/or more than 18 hours during a school week, all violations of limits set by law.

The Fair Labor Standards Act limits the number of hours and times of day that a person under the age of 16 can work during the school year.

“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,” said district director John Warner in a statement.

The employees worked at McDonalds’ in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, and Union counties.