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.

  • Riskable
    link
    fedilink
    English
    519 days ago

    were fined a combined $821,223

    Should’ve given that to the kids. Create an incentive for other kids to report on their fucking evil employers.

    • RubberDuck
      link
      59 days ago

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

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        28 days 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 days ago

          Probably their parents, but yes.

  • @MintyFresh
    link
    419 days ago

    Fines these companies probably will never pay is such bullshit. Go and arrest everyone, from the kids immediate “supervisor” all the way up to the ceo. Anything less is lip service.

  • @garretble
    link
    English
    239 days ago

    Upton Sinclair over here spinnin’.

    • Flying Squid
      link
      129 days ago

      The advantage Sinclair had was that people read books back then. People think watching more than a 30-second video is a hassle now.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      59 days ago

      Taking fines and distributing them to other republicans instead of giving that fine to the children working? ;)

      • MushuChupacabra
        link
        29 days ago

        I’m referring to the republican desire to hurt the marginalized, and their regressive attitudes on basic human rights.