Perdue Farms pays $4 million in restitution after it employed youngsters in hazardous occupations at a Virginia plant and allow them to work previous 7 p.m. throughout the common faculty week, the U.S. Division of Labor introduced Wednesday.
The hazardous work on the Accomac facility included deboning hen utilizing tools corresponding to electrical knives, the division mentioned in a information launch. The circumstances violated the Honest Labor Requirements Act.
“Perdue Farms has substantial affect within the poultry processing business,” Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda mentioned in an announcement. “By coming into into this settlement, Perdue Farms is taking significant motion to root out youngster labor not solely at its services however to acknowledge its company accountability to fight youngster labor extra broadly.”
Perdue Farms pays restitution to the kids, organizations advocating for youngster labor victims and to help prevention efforts, the division mentioned. The corporate additionally pays a $150,000 fantastic.
Perdue contracted with non permanent staffing company Workers Administration Options LLC and SMX LLC. The division mentioned the corporate and company collectively employed youngsters in hazardous occupations on the Accomac facility, situated on the Jap Shore.
The company agreed to pay a $125,000 civil penalty, the division mentioned.
In an announcement, Perdue mentioned it absolutely cooperated with the investigation, which “didn’t establish any present underage employees.”
Perdue mentioned it strongly disagreed with the Labor Division’s findings and that “there aren’t any admissions within the settlement on the contrary.”
“Perdue acknowledged {that a} extended dispute with the Division of Labor did nothing to handle the kid labor disaster,” the corporate mentioned.
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