An investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found that Monogram Meats Snacks LLC employed at least 11 children. The meatpacking and food processing facility in Minnesota employed five 17-year-olds, four 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds. Nine of the children were operating hazardous machinery. For violating federal child labor laws, Monogram Meats Snacks will have to pay $140,164 in civil money penalties.
In a recent quote, Principal Deputy Wage and Hour Administrator Jessica Looman said, “As we made clear earlier this year, the Department of Labor and the Biden-Harris administration are committed to combating the troubling increase in child labor violations. No employer should ever jeopardize the safety of children by employing them to operate dangerous equipment. Employers are legally responsible to recognize potential child labor violations and to take all appropriate actions to verify that they are not employing children illegally.”