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In a lawsuit filed in federal court docket, the U.S. Division of Labor (DOL) mentioned that kids as younger as 13 have been illegally employed by one of many nation’s largest meals security suppliers, Packers Sanitation Companies Inc. (PSSI). The corporate allegedly employed over two dozen youngsters to scrub up kill flooring and slaughterhouses.
In line with court docket paperwork, some staff suffered accidents — together with chemical burns. Investigators mentioned one 14-year-old labored shifts between 11 pm-5 am, reportedly cleansing meat-cutting machines as much as 18 hours every week earlier than going to highschool, falling asleep in lessons or skipping them altogether.
Moreover, the Labor Dept. alleged that PSSI interfered with the investigation, intimidating staff and discouraging cooperation with investigators. The company acknowledged that firm workers additionally modified and even deleted employment recordsdata.
Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri mentioned within the DOL announcement that in taking “benefit of youngsters, exposing them to office risks — and interfering with a federal investigation,” PSSI confirmed “flagrant disregard for the regulation and for the well-being of younger staff.”
Citing earlier investigations into employee security at different corporations that endangered staff throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Submit famous that this places “one other harsh highlight on the meatpacking trade, which has been criticized for exposing staff to harmful circumstances which have led to extreme accidents and deaths.”
Chicago-based Regional Solicitor of Labor Christine Heri mentioned within the DOL launch that “The Division of Labor will use each out there authorized useful resource to guard staff – no matter their age – and maintain to account these employers who mistakenly consider they will violate the Honest Labor Requirements Act, hinder federal investigations, and retaliate towards staff who assert their rights.”
The Division of Labor filed its civil go well with within the Nebraska U.S. District Court docket on November 9, 2022.
