A US meat packaging company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), has been found to have employed more than 100 children between the ages of 13 and 17 to do hazardous jobs in their plants. The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division discovered the violation, resulting in PSSI being ordered to pay a maximum fine of $184,073.
The children were reportedly working in facilities in Nebraska and Kansas, and their jobs included cleaning equipment, handling chemicals, and operating machinery that was dangerous for adults, let alone children. This type of work is prohibited by US child labor laws.
The investigation began after an anonymous tip was received by the Department of Labor, which prompted a visit to PSSI’s plants. Investigators found that the children had been working there for years, with some starting when they were as young as 13. PSSI had apparently been using a third-party contractor to hire the child laborers, in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
PSSI has since issued a statement, acknowledging their wrongdoing and promising to take steps to prevent such violations from happening again in the future. The company has also stated that it has terminated its relationship with the third-party contractor responsible for hiring the child workers.
This news has sparked outrage among child labor advocacy groups, who have long campaigned against the exploitation of children in the workforce. The revelation that such a large number of children had been employed by a company in such a hazardous industry has raised concerns about the safety and welfare of children in the workforce.
While PSSI has been held accountable for their actions and fined the maximum amount allowed under the law, the long-term effects on the affected children remain unknown. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of enforcing child labor laws and ensuring that companies are held accountable for their actions. The safety and well-being of children must always come first.