CALIFORNIA – Owners and operators of a network of poultry processors and distributors in California have been fined an unprecedented 4.8 million dollars, in addition to forfeiting $1 million in profits, following an exhaustive investigation by the Department of Labor that unveiled the illegal employment of minors as young as 14 for hazardous work.
The investigation, conducted by the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, exposed the illegal practices of A1 Meat Solutions, JRC Culinary Group, Moon Poultry, and five other affiliated companies, who employed minors in risky conditions such as handling sharp knives to debone poultry.
Employers, in their effort to evade responsibilities, not only deprived poultry workers and packers of their overtime pay but also falsified payroll records to obstruct the investigation. Additionally, cases of retaliation by supervisors were reported, who harassed workers with derogatory remarks and altered employment terms after the investigation began in January 2024.
The agreement reached not only requires employers to settle back wages and forfeit profits gained from illegal practices but also imposes significant fines as a deterrent. This sends a clear message about the seriousness of child labor in California and the importance of regulatory compliance in the poultry industry.
The owners of the implicated companies have committed to implementing robust corrective measures to ensure future compliance with labor regulations.
The discovery of this child labor scandal in California underscores the urgency of effectively addressing abusive labor practices nationwide. With nearly a thousand cases of child labor violations investigated last year, the need for ongoing oversight and concerted action to protect the most vulnerable workers in our society is evident.
