Fall River seafood company accused of child labor, abuse

Federal Lawsuit Filed Against Raw Seafoods, Inc. for Child Exploitation and Unsafe Working Conditions

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Three immigrant minors filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against a major New England seafood company, 12 News has learned.

The lawsuit accuses Raw Seafoods, Inc., of child exploitation and unsafe working conditions at its Fall River processing plant.

Unsafe Working Conditions and Exploitation Allegations

• The children were allegedly subjected to coercion, psychological abuse, hazardous workplace conditions, and discrimination.
• Their responsibilities included cutting fish using machines with sharp blades, operating a dangerous fish-sorting machine without training, and moving heavy boxes of fish and equipment.
• Most of the shifts were spent in freezing temperatures, being exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes.
• They were granted one 15-minute break and one 30-minute meal break during shifts lasting nine to eleven hours.
• Due to their work schedules, the children had limited sleep, preventing them from attending school.
• The plaintiffs suffered injuries during their employment, including cuts and burns, and were only given bandages for treatment.

Child Labor and Discrimination

• The plaintiffs, aged 15 at the time of hiring, were seeking work to support their family members in Guatemala.
• The employment documents were printed in English, which they were instructed to sign without understanding the contents.
• The children experienced racial discrimination and were insulted and verbally abused for their ethnicity.
• Non-K’iche’ employees were given harsher working conditions and assigned more physically demanding tasks.
• The children were threatened and intimidated to keep working at Raw Seafoods, with the company warning that they would not be hired elsewhere if they left.

Previous Investigations and Additional Minors

• Raw Seafoods has previously been investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for workplace safety and employment law violations.
• Eight to ten other minors worked at the plant during the plaintiffs’ employment.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 4: Quality Education – The children were unable to attend school due to their work schedules, violating their right to education.
2. Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The lawsuit highlights the exploitation and unsafe working conditions faced by the children, emphasizing the need for fair and safe employment opportunities.
3. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities – The children experienced racial discrimination and were subjected to harsher working conditions based on their ethnicity.
4. Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – The federal lawsuit seeks justice for the children who were coerced, abused, and denied their rights.

The victims are requesting a jury trial and compensation for the violations they endured, including forced labor, denial of benefits, and child labor law violations.

Raw Seafoods declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. Specific Targets Based on the Article’s Content

• Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

• Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 16.2.2: Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age group, and form of exploitation.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: yahoo.com