A Tennessee-based sanitation company, Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, has been fined over half a million dollars following a federal investigation that found the company illegally hired at least two dozen children to work in dangerous meat processing facilities in Iowa and Virginia. The U.S. Department of Labor announced on Monday that the company had entered into a consent judgment to pay nearly $650,000 in civil penalties and to cease employing minors. The investigation revealed that at least four children were still working at one Iowa slaughterhouse as of December 12, in violation of U.S. law that prohibits individuals under 18 from working in meat processing plants due to safety concerns.
The Labor Department accused Fayette of using 15 underage workers at a Perdue Farms plant in Accomac, Virginia, as well as at least nine at Seaboard Triumph Foods in Sioux City, Iowa. These underage workers were tasked with cleaning dangerous equipment such as head splitters, jaw pullers, and meat bandsaws in hazardous conditions where animals are slaughtered. The investigation also revealed a severe injury sustained by a 14-year-old while cleaning the drumstick packing line belt at the Virginia plant. Following the investigation, Perdue Farms and Seaboard Triumph Foods terminated their contracts with Fayette, signaling a zero-tolerance policy for child labor abuse.
In response to the consent judgment, Fayette has agreed to hire a third-party consultant to monitor compliance with child labor laws for at least three years and to provide training on labor regulations. Additionally, the company is required to establish a hotline for individuals to report any concerns related to child labor abuses. A spokesperson for Fayette stated that the company is cooperating with the investigation and maintains a zero-tolerance policy for the employment of minors. The Labor Department has highlighted a troubling trend of child labor violations in the U.S., citing incidents such as the fatal maiming of a 16-year-old at a Mississippi poultry plant, the death of another 16-year-old in a Wisconsin sawmill accident, and the illegal employment of over 100 children by Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI) in meatpacking plants.
The Labor Department has reported a significant increase in child labor violations across the country, with the number of children employed illegally in the U.S. rising by 88% since 2019. This alarming trend underscores the need for stronger enforcement of child labor laws and greater oversight of companies that may be engaging in abusive labor practices. By imposing hefty fines and implementing monitoring mechanisms, the government aims to hold companies like Fayette accountable for their actions and protect vulnerable young workers from dangerous and exploitative working conditions. The case of Fayette Janitorial Service LLC serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating child labor and the importance of upholding laws that safeguard the rights and well-being of minors in the workforce.
