A Wisconsin McDonald’s franchisee must pay $17,000 in back wages to 23 employees who were minors, after a state investigation found violations of child labor rules, officials said Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s Equal Rights Division investigated Iron Arch after receiving a complaint from an employee. Investigators found that minors worked outside the hours allowed by law, exceeded daily limits and worked shifts of six hours or longer without a 30-minute break. In addition to the back wages, the company is required to pay $59,754 in civil penalties and surcharges, according to the Department of Workforce Development and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The workforce department said it will distribute the owed wages to the affected employees. “Child labor laws provide important protections to ensure that kids who choose to work can stay safe in the workplace without sacrificing their schoolwork or time with family and friends,” Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek said in a statement.