Smithfield Foods Pays $2 Million to Settle Minnesota Child Labor Violations
Smithfield Foods has agreed to pay $2 million to resolve allegations of child labor violations at its St. James, Minn., plant, according to news reports. The Minnesota Dept. of Labor and Industry (DLI) found that the Smithfield Packaged Meats subsidiary employed at least 11 children aged 14-17 at St. James facility from April 2021 through April 2023.
Three of them began working for the company when they were 14, Minnesota DLI said, and nine of them worked beyond allowable hours. All 11 perform potentially dangerous work, the agency alleged.
“Smithfield contested DLI’s claims and denies that we knowingly hired anyone under the age of 18 to work in our St. James facility,” Smithfield said in a statement. “We have not admitted liability as part of this settlement; however, in the interest of preventing the distraction of prolonged litigation, we have agreed to settle this matter.”
The company said all 11 passed the federal E-Verify employment eligibility system by using false identification. Also, “Each used a different name to obtain employment with Smithfield than the name by which DLI identified them to Smithfield,” according to the company.
Associated Press reported the state agency said the $2 million administrative penalty is the largest it has recovered in a child labor enforcement action. It also ranks among the larger recent child labor settlements nationwide.
“We wholeheartedly agree that individuals under the age of 18 have no place working in meatpacking or processing facilities,” Smithfield’s statement continued. “As a matter of policy, Smithfield Foods Inc. and its subsidiaries do not employ anyone under the age of 18 to work in any of our processing facilities. Additionally, we require our suppliers, including our third-party sanitation service providers, to follow this policy.”
Smithfield also created a long list of steps to enforce its policy prohibiting the employment of minors.
