Hundreds of Migrant Children in the US Are Working Long Hours and in Dangerous Jobs
A federal court has ordered a meat processor in the City of Industry and a staffing agency in Downey to comply with federal child labor regulations.
The Fair Labor Standards Act forbids employers from employing children under age of 18 in dangerous occupations.
The US Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment in a lawsuit against Luttrell Staffing and City of Industry meat processor, Hallmark Meat Packing, Inc. The judgment orders the companies to comply with federal child labor regulations and pay $150,000 in back wages and damages to 107 child workers.
An investigation by the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division found that Luttrell Staffing recruited children as young as 13 to work at Hallmark Meat Packing. The children worked long hours, often overnight, and were exposed to hazardous conditions, including sharp knives and heavy machinery.
The consent judgment requires Luttrell Staffing and Hallmark Meat Packing to:
- Comply with all applicable child labor laws
- Develop and implement a child labor compliance program
- Provide training to employees on child labor laws
- Pay $150,000 in back wages and damages to 107 child workers
The Labor Department is committed to protecting the rights of child workers. We will continue to investigate and prosecute employers who violate child labor laws.
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