Summary

Federal investigators found 11 children, some as young as 13, working in hazardous conditions at Seaboard Triumph Foods’ pork plant in Sioux City, Iowa, over four years.

The minors cleaned dangerous equipment with corrosive chemicals, despite changes in cleaning contractors.

Both Qvest LLC and Fayette Janitorial Services, which employed children at the facility, were fined a combined $821,223.

The case highlights ongoing issues with migrant child exploitation in the U.S., where federal investigations into child labor violations have risen sharply, affecting over 4,000 minors this year.

  • RubberDuck
    link
    51 day ago

    I’d imagine that the fine means the employer is also open to civil action.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      28 hours ago

      These 13 year olds just need to hire a team of attorneys to seek civil penalties from this company. Easy peasy

      • RubberDuck
        link
        18 hours ago

        Probably their parents, but yes.