Seafood supplier for top supermarkets sued for allegedly using child labor at Fall River plant

Legal Aid Groups File Lawsuit Alleging Child Labor at Seafood Processing Plant

Legal aid groups have recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of three migrant teenagers who allegedly worked at a seafood processing plant in Fall River that supplies some of the region’s biggest supermarket chains. The lawsuit, filed jointly by Justice At Work and Yale Law School’s Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic, claims that as many as 10 underage migrants worked at Raw Seafoods in 2022. The plaintiffs estimate that the company employs about 350 people.

Raw Seafoods and its Supply Chain

Raw Seafoods is a supplier of fresh and prepared seafood to major supermarket chains such as Whole Foods, Costco, Target, Shaw’s, Star Market, and The Fresh Market. The company’s products can be found in the fish counters and frozen food aisles of these supermarkets. The lawsuit alleges that much of the seafood is sorted and cut with heavy machinery at Raw Seafoods’ plant in Fall River, which is sometimes operated by teenagers working late-night shifts more than five nights a week.

Violation of Labor Laws

Federal law prohibits 14- and 15-year-olds from working in any manufacturing setting, including seafood processing. In Massachusetts, state law prohibits 15-year-olds from working past 9 p.m. However, the lawsuit claims that the three teenage plaintiffs typically worked from the afternoon until around 2 a.m., leaving them less than four hours to sleep before school began.

Exploitation and False Promises

Attorneys for the teenagers claim that they were promised safer jobs packing boxes but often ended up operating and cleaning heavy machinery. The teenagers allegedly kept working to financially support family members in Guatemala. Two of the teenagers came across the border unaccompanied by parents or relatives. The lawsuit highlights the exploitation of young immigrants and the false promises made to them.

Response from Raw Seafoods

A spokesman for Raw Seafoods provided a statement saying that the company previously employed a group of underage workers who used false documents to lie about their ages. The statement characterized Raw Seafoods as a “victim” of “document fraud.” The company claims to have taken steps to ensure future compliance with relevant employment laws and regulations.

Allegations Against Supervisor

Many of the allegations in the lawsuit concern a single supervisor named Rolando. The complaint states that the supervisor reprimanded and scolded the plaintiffs when they missed work to attend school or prioritize coursework. The lawsuit claims that the supervisor denied one of the plaintiffs time off to attend a scheduled vaccine appointment, causing him to miss the entire school year.

Similar Cases and Seeking Justice

Accusations of young people, often immigrants from Central America, illegally working in Massachusetts’ seafood processing industry are not uncommon. Last year, an investigation by The Public’s Radio uncovered dozens of migrant children working in seafood processing plants in New Bedford. The lawsuit seeks to publicize the allegations and provide financial compensation for labor violations, including exposure to potentially hazardous work conditions.

Conclusion

The lawsuit filed against Raw Seafoods sheds light on the issue of child labor and exploitation in the seafood processing industry. It emphasizes the need for companies to adhere to labor laws and ensure the well-being of their workers. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, aim to address these issues and promote fair and inclusive employment practices.

This story is a production of the New England News Collaborative. It was originally published by The Public’s Radio.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The issue of child labor in the seafood processing plant connects to SDG 8, which focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Child labor is a violation of decent work principles and undermines efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth.

SDG 4: Quality Education

The article mentions that the teenagers had to work late-night shifts, leaving them with less than four hours of sleep before school. This highlights the issue of child labor interfering with access to quality education, which is a key component of SDG 4.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified 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, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.

The article addresses the issue of child labor in the seafood processing plant, which aligns with Target 8.7. The target aims to eradicate child labor and ensure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor by 2025.

Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.

The article highlights how child labor, particularly the late-night shifts, interferes with the teenagers’ ability to attend school and access quality education. This relates to Target 4.1, which aims to ensure that all children have access to free, equitable, and quality education.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group

The article mentions that as many as 10 underage migrants worked at the seafood processing plant. This indicates the presence of child labor and can be used to measure progress towards ending child labor, as captured by Indicator 8.7.1.

Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading and mathematics

The article highlights how the teenagers’ work schedule, leaving them with minimal sleep, affects their ability to attend school and perform well academically. This implies that their access to quality education and achievement in reading and mathematics may be compromised. Indicator 4.1.1 can be used to measure progress in ensuring that children and young people achieve minimum proficiency levels in these subjects.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wbur.org