CITY OF INDUSTRY, CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment in federal court, requiring a meat processor in City of Industry and a staffing agency in Downey to return $327,484 in illegally obtained profits from exploiting child labor. Additionally, the employers must pay $62,516 in fines to the department.
The judgment, issued on June 20, 2024, by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, follows an investigation by the Wage and Hour Division.
This investigation determined that A&J Meats and The Right Hire illegally employed child workers as young as 15, assigning them dangerous tasks such as using sharp knives, working in freezers, and scheduling them during hours prohibited by law, thereby violating federal child labor regulations.
Marc Pilotin, Western Regional Solicitor for the Department of Labor in San Francisco, stated: “A&J Meats and The Right Hire deliberately endangered these children’s safety, prioritizing profits over their well-being. These employers have now learned the severe consequences of cruelly exposing children to danger.”
Investigators found that the children worked more than three hours daily on school days, after 7 p.m., and more than 18 hours weekly during the school term. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits employing minors under 18 in hazardous occupations, including work in slaughtering, meatpacking, and poultry processing establishments.
The judgment also prohibits A&J Meats, owner Priscilla Helen Castillo, and The Right Hire from future violations of the FLSA and marketing goods related to child labor. The parties must provide annual FLSA training for at least four years and undergo monitoring by an independent third party for three years.
Ruben Rosalez, Regional Administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in San Francisco, asserted: “No employer should profit from child exploitation. When we find children illegally employed, we take action to hold all employers accountable under the law. Businesses using staffing agencies cannot escape responsibility for child labor violations when they also act as employers.”
The Department of Labor encourages businesses to monitor their supply chains to ensure the goods they buy, produce, and sell are not made with oppressive and illegal child labor.
This case underscores the importance of complying with labor laws to protect young workers. The penalties and corrective measures established by the court aim to prevent future violations and promote a safe and legal working environment for all employees, especially minors.
Businesses must be diligent and responsible in supervising their hiring practices and working conditions, ensuring all operations comply with federal and state regulations to avoid severe penalties and protect the well-being of their workers.
