State Levies Record Fine Against Meat Processor for Underage Hiring

(KNSI) – Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation has agreed to pay a $2 million administrative penalty to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

The fine is the largest in history and is related to a DLI investigation into the use of illegal child labor at the company’s facility in the city of St. James. The consent order does not require Smithfield to formally admit guilt in the issue.

The DLI says the company had hired at least 11 minor children from the ages of 14 and 17 between April 2021 and April 2023. Nine of the 11 allegedly worked after the curfew imposed by state law, either 9:00 p.m. if you are under 16 or 11:00 p.m. for those between 16 and 18 years old.

Another red flag identified by the department was the jobs the children allegedly performed, including operating heavy machinery, working near toxic substances, using potentially dangerous meat grinders and slicers, and moving pallets using a lift. DLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach says, “It is unacceptable for a company to employ minor children to perform hazardous work late at night. This illegal behavior impacts children’s health, safety and well-being and their ability to focus on their education and their future. Combatting unlawful child labor in Minnesota is a priority for DLI, and it will continue to devote resources to addressing and resolving these violations.”

The consent order requires the company to allow employees to express concerns without retaliation if they suspect a new hire is underage. Training for salaried employees responsible for hiring needs to be beefed up and at least one worker in the Human Resources department will be required to speak Somali or other foreign languages used by new hires to better help the company weed out underage applicants.

While the consent order is in place, a third-party consultant will have to visit the facility at least once to ensure that child labor laws are being followed.

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