Slaughterhouse cleaning company fined $649,000 for child workers

A janitorial company has been fined $649,000 after hiring minors for dangerous jobs cleaning slaughterhouses, as per the United States Department of Labor (DOL). The investigation found that the company employed at least 24 children, some as young as 13, for overnight shifts at two separate slaughter facilities. Federal labor law prohibits children from certain tasks in meat plants due to the hazardous conditions. The company will pay the fine and take measures to prevent child labor and establish a reporting system for concerns. Instances of illegal child labor have been increasing, with previous fines issued to other contractors.