Food company violations of child labor laws appear to keep on coming
Food company violations of child labor laws appear to keep on coming Food Safety News
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More Child Labor Violations in Regulated Meat Industry
Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods are currently under federal scrutiny for potential illegal child labor practices, indicating an increase in child labor violations within the regulated meat industry.
Packers Sanitation Services Fined for Child Labor
Packers Sanitation Services, a contract cleaning agent for Tyson Foods, has recently been fined $90,828 for employing child labor at Tyson’s facility in Green Forest, AR. Additionally, they were fined $15,138 for child labor at Goodlettsville, TN.
Investigation into Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods
The U.S. Department of Labor has initiated an investigation into Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods following reports of children as young as 13 working overnight to clean poultry facilities. The Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division has confirmed the investigation but has not provided further details. One report involves a 14-year-old boy who suffered a near-arm amputation while working at a Perdue facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The boy, along with other middle and high schoolers, was hired by Perdue’s agent for overnight cleaning duties involving high pressures and acid cleaners.
Federal Labor Laws and Child Labor
According to federal labor laws, only individuals aged 18 and above are permitted to undertake industrial cleaning tasks of this nature. However, minors often falsify their age to secure such jobs, although their true age is often apparent.
Joining the List of Violators
If found to have violated child labor laws, Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods will join a growing list of violators in 2023, including JBS Foods, Maple Leaf Farms, Cargill Inc., the Greater Omaha Packing Co, and several others.
Increase in Child Labor Violations
The Economic Policy Institute recently reported a nearly 300 percent increase in child labor violations since 2015. During the past fiscal year, the Labor Department identified over 800 violators.
Investigation into Human Trafficking Schemes
Thousands of minors entering the United States often owe debts to criminal cartels, making them vulnerable to human trafficking schemes. Homeland Security is reportedly investigating industries likely involved in these schemes, with the meat industry being on their list of interests.
State Investigations into Child Labor Laws
Several states are conducting their own investigations to support their child labor laws. For instance, the Minnesota Department of Labor recently imposed a $300,000 fine on Tony Downs Food Company for child labor violations.
Industry Response
Representatives from the meat industry claim to be cooperating with authorities and assert that their company policies aim to prevent minors from engaging in hazardous jobs that violate the law. Similar to Perdue Farms, they promise to bring in external auditors to ensure such incidents do not occur again.
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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 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 | – Reports of child labor violations in the regulated meat industry – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor on child labor practices at Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods – Fines imposed on Packers Sanitation Services for using child labor at Tyson’s facilities – Reports of children as young as 13 working overnight to clean poultry facilities – Confirmation of child labor investigations by the Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division – Involvement of minors in industrial cleaning tasks violating federal labor laws – Increase in child labor violations since 2015 – More than 800 violators found by the Labor Department during the past fiscal year |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Investigation by Homeland Security into industries likely involved in human trafficking schemes, including the meat industry – Involvement of minors who owe debts to criminal cartels and become targets of human trafficking schemes |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
The SDGs addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article are SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
The specific targets under SDG 8 that can be identified based on the article’s content are 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.
The specific target under SDG 16 that can be identified based on the article’s content is Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
Yes, there are indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.
For Target 8.7:
– Reports of child labor violations in the regulated meat industry
– Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor on child labor practices at Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods
– Fines imposed on Packers Sanitation Services for using child labor at Tyson’s facilities
– Reports of children as young as 13 working overnight to clean poultry facilities
– Confirmation of child labor investigations by the Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division
– Involvement of minors in industrial cleaning tasks violating federal labor laws
– Increase in child labor violations since 2015
– More than 800 violators found by the Labor Department during the past fiscal year
For Target 16.2:
– Investigation by Homeland Security into industries likely involved in human trafficking schemes, including the meat industry
– Involvement of minors who owe debts to criminal cartels and become targets of human trafficking schemes
These indicators can be used to measure progress towards eradicating forced labor, ending child labor, and preventing human trafficking in the meat industry.
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | 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 | – Reports of child labor violations in the regulated meat industry – Investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor on child labor practices at Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods – Fines imposed on Packers Sanitation Services for using child labor at Tyson’s facilities – Reports of children as young as 13 working overnight to clean poultry facilities – Confirmation of child labor investigations by the Labor Department’s Wage & Hour Division – Involvement of minors in industrial cleaning tasks violating federal labor laws – Increase in child labor violations since 2015 – More than 800 violators found by the Labor Department during the past fiscal year |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | – Investigation by Homeland Security into industries likely involved in human trafficking schemes, including the meat industry – Involvement of minors who owe debts to criminal cartels and become targets of human trafficking schemes |
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Source: foodsafetynews.com
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