Perdue Farms and JBS Settle Labor Department Probe Over Migrant Child Labor in Slaughterhouses
Perdue Farms and JBS, two of the largest meatpacking companies in the U.S., have agreed to pay a total of $8 million after a Department of Labor investigation revealed that migrant children were employed in hazardous roles at their slaughterhouses.
A 14-year-old boy working in an ice cream factory, Oklahoma City, 1917. – Lewis W. Hine (1874-1940) / itoldya420.getarchive.net
The settlements, announced this week, mark a significant step in the Biden administration’s intensified efforts to combat child labor, which has led to a series of enforcement actions in recent months.
Cases of major brands being directly implicated in child labor violations are rare. Many companies in the food-processing and manufacturing sectors often outsource high-risk tasks, such as cleaning, to third-party staffing agencies. This practice allows them to distance themselves from potential labor law violations.
Federal investigators reported that children were found working at a Perdue Farms facility in Virginia, highlighting the ongoing challenges of enforcing labor protections in outsourced operations. Most of the settlement funds will be directed toward initiatives to support the affected children.
