Tennessee meat processor allows children to work on dangerous equipment
Tennessee meat processor allows children to work on dangerous ... Food Safety News
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Meatpacking Company Fined for Child Labor Violations
Monogram Meats Snacks, a meatpacking and food processing company, has been fined and banned from shipping its products due to child labor violations. The company has paid a six-figure fine of $140,164 and is prohibited from shipping beef jerky, cheese, and sausage.
Child Labor Violations
The U.S. Department of Labor conducted an investigation into Monogram Meats Snacks and found that the company employed at least 11 children, with nine of them operating hazardous machinery. The violations took place at the company’s meatpacking and food processing facility in Chandler, MN.
The investigation began in March 2023 and resulted in Monogram Meats Snacks agreeing to pay the civil money penalties last week.
The division discovered that the company employed five 17-year-olds, four 16-year-olds, and two 15-year-olds, which is a violation of federal child labor laws.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 4: Quality Education – Ensuring that children are not engaged in hazardous labor and have access to education.
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promoting safe and secure working environments for all workers, including children.
- Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Enforcing labor laws and holding companies accountable for child labor violations.
This case is part of the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to combat child labor violations. Other major companies, including Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods, have also been under investigation for similar violations this year. The department has seen a 69 percent increase in children employed illegally by companies since 2018.
Department’s Commitment
Principal Deputy Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman stated, “The Department of Labor and the Biden-Harris administration are committed to combating the troubling increase in child labor violations. No employer should ever jeopardize the safety of children by employing them to operate dangerous equipment. Employers are legally responsible for recognizing potential child labor violations and taking appropriate actions to prevent illegal employment of children.”
Legal Actions Taken
In addition to the shipping ban, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota entered a consent judgment and order on July 6, 2023. The judgment requires Monogram Meats Snacks to comply with child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company must also take specific steps to ensure compliance, such as conducting nationwide audits, establishing a toll-free number for anonymous reporting of potential child labor compliance issues, and identifying and marking hazardous equipment.
Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda emphasized that the Department of Labor will not tolerate companies profiting from the illegal employment of children. She stated, “Child labor abuses are a stain on our nation, and we will continue to utilize every tool and legal strategy at our disposal to keep young people safe.”
Company Information
Monogram Meat Snacks is a subsidiary of Monogram Food Solutions LLC in Memphis. However, Monogram Management Services Inc. is the named employer of all Monogram employees. The company operates in various locations across the United States, including Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
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SDGs, Targets, and 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.
- Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
Analysis
The article addresses the issue of child labor in the meatpacking and food processing industry. This issue is connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, specifically Target 8.7, which aims to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminate the worst forms of child labor.
Based on the article’s content, the specific target that can be identified is Target 8.7.1, which focuses on measuring the proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.
The article mentions that Monogram Meats Snacks employed at least 11 children, with nine of them operating hazardous machinery. This information implies that there are children aged 15-17 years engaged in hazardous labor roles, which can be used as an indicator to measure progress towards Target 8.7.1.
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. | Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group. |
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Source: foodsafetynews.com
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