Children working overnight shifts at meat processing plants brings to light troubling violations of child labor laws. A recent investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) uncovered alarming findings at Seaboard Triumph Foods, located in Sioux City, Iowa. According to the DOL, nearly eleven minors were found employed by Qvest, a sanitation contractor hailing from Guymon, Oklahoma, from at least September 2019 through September 2023. The children were reportedly tasked with using harsh and corrosive cleaners to sanitize dangerous machines such as head splitters, jaw pullers, bandsaws, and neck clippers, which carry significant risks of injury.
Michael Lazzeri, the Midwest Regional Administrator for the DOL's Wage and Hour Division, expressed concerns over Seaboard Triumph Foods’ history with child labor violations: "These findings demonstrate children have worked illegally at the Sioux City facility since September 2019. Despite changing sanitation contractors, children continued to work under dangerous conditions. This pattern of illicit employment raises serious safety questions."
Despite the serious nature of the violations, Seaboard Triumph Foods responded by distancing themselves from Qvest. The company stated through email correspondence, "STF did not employ any of the individuals mentioned and has no evidence of minors accessing the plant." They insisted on not having contracted with Qvest for over a year, emphasizing their commitment to lawful labor practices.
The DOL’s investigation is part of broader concerns within the meat processing industry about the controversial employment of minors. Over the last year, similar reports have surfaced involving other sanitation firms, indicating this problem is systemic, not unique to Seaboard Triumph. For example, Fayette Janitorial Services, another contractor, was fined nearly $650,000 earlier this year for employing minors at the same plant as well as at other facilities, reflecting the scale of the issue.
A broader investigation sparked interest when the DOL found children as young as 13 working at various meat and poultry facilities. This includes incidences where minors were operating machinery or cleaning equipment with hazardous materials. Reports of children sustaining severe injuries, including one case where a 14-year-old was maimed at a Perdue Farms plant, have highlighted the precariousness of the situation. Even more alarming are reports detailing how minors have been misled by contractors, often using fraudulent identification documents to secure employment.
Legal ramifications are also at play, as the DOL has ramped up its efforts to penalize those who breach child labor laws. Recent statistics indicate the agency conducted 736 investigations across the country, unearthing violations affecting over 4,000 children and issuing over $15 million in penalties, marking an 89% increase from the previous year.
Seaboard Triumph Foods is not alone. Other high-profile companies, like JBS USA, have faced backlash for similar violations. JBS USA made headlines after parting ways with its sanitation contractor, PSSI, which disclosed it hired over 100 minors across several plants, heavily fined for these infractions. It reveals the harsh reality of child labor practices persisting across the industry, with little regard for safety.
Labor advocates have called for more stringent regulations and enforcement to combat this issue. They argue there must be greater accountability on companies employing subcontractors who often sidestep labor laws. Critics contend companies benefit from using minors in low-paying, hazardous positions, emphasizing the need for legislative change and increased funding for monitoring labor compliance.
The DOL's recent findings spotlight not just the individual incidents but also systemic industry issues. The rampant use of minors for dangerous tasks at plants must prompt both public and private sectors to review labor practices seriously. Without increased scrutiny and accountability, it is likely the issue of child labor will persist, endangering the very children who should be protected by law. The DOL, alongside concerned advocacy groups, remains determined to combat and prevent such unlawful practices, ensuring children can instead focus on their education and not on hazardous and illegal work.
