Charleston’s El Rancherito Mexican Restaurant was among 19 of its statewide chain caught violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.

A federal court settlement filed today required reimbursement to underpaid workers.

Brad Mitchell, regional spokesman for the U. S. Department of Labor, said the chain, El Rancherito, Inc., did not meet minimum wage requirements at any of its locations across east-central and southern Illinois.

The Fair Labor Standards Act requires employees be paid at least $5.15 per hour minimum wage and time-and-a-half for any work beyond 40 hours per week.

Mitchell said nearly $1 million in back wages was recovered for 331 employees of the chain which encompasses El Rancherito, Los Potros, La Fonda and El Vaquero restaurants.

“We conducted an investigation over four months. We went back two years to make sure low wage workers were paid properly.”

The restaurant owners became liable for the back wages, which totaled $60,397 locally.

Cooks, dish washers, waiters and bussers will be reimbursed for hours worked where they received below minimum wage.

Owners have five years to pay those wages plus interest.

“In Charleston, the owners were agreeable,” Mitchell said. “They settled and agreed to pay the wages.”

Management staff at the Charleston El Rancherito was unavailable for comment.

More than 250 employees of El Rancherito restaurants in Collinsville, Effingham, Calesburg, Highland, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Matchfield, Macomb, Mattoon, Mt. Vernon, Olney, Robinson, Springfield and Taylorville will receive compensation for pay.

An additional 75 workers employed at La Fonda in Edwardsville, Los Potros in Quincy and El Vaquero in Mattoon will be repaid more than $140,000 collectively.

Mitchell said the Department of Labor will most likely keep watch over the chain.

“We often return to businesses when we fix wages,” Mitchell said.

The case was filed with the federal court, so future violations will go to the court, Mitchell said.

City Editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected].