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The United States Department of Labor found that Packers Sanitation Services Inc hired at least 31 children between the ages of 13 and 17. Some of their work included: cleaning floors and dangerous equipment such as meat- and bone-cutting saws, grinding machines and electric knives, using corrosive cleaners during night shifts at three slaughtering and meat packing facilities. 

At facilities of Turkey Valley Farms in Marshall and Worthington, Minnesota, and Grand Island, Nebraska, children suffered chemical burns resulting from the use of corrosive cleaners which were required to use. A 13-year-old suffered caustic burns and other injuries. A 14-year-old worked from 11:00 p.m to 5:00 a.m., five to six days a week, and suffered chemical burns from cleaning machines used for cutting meat. Most of the children were interviewed in Spanish. School records showed that students would fall asleep during class or miss school for work.

Work regulations on child labor prohibit 14 and 15 year olds from working after 9 p.m. during the summer and after 7 p.m. during the school year. It is also prohibited for them to work more than 3 hours on school days, more than 8 hours on days off from school and more than 18 hours a week. It is also prohibited for minors to operate motor vehicles, forklifts and any other dangerous equipment. The Labor Department accused companies of interfering with the investigation by intimidating underage workers to discourage them from cooperating, and deleting or manipulating employment records. 

The department filed for an injunction in U.S. District Court in Nebraska against Packers Sanitation Services Inc. requiring the company to stop employing minors and to comply with the Department of Labor investigation.

If you are in a similar situation, call Centro de los Derechos del Migrante Inc. (CDM) from Mexico at: 800 590 1773, or the United States at: 1 855 234 9699

To read the full note by the Department of Labor, click here

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