Department of Labor finds separate plant of poultry company implicated in teen’s 2023 death to have ‘oppressive child labor’

Troubling Discovery at Poultry Plant

A recent court filing revealed that minors were found working on the kill floor of a poultry plant owned by Mar-Jac Poultry, the same company responsible for the death of a teenager last year.

Child Labor Violations Uncovered

Department of Labor investigators uncovered “oppressive child labor” at the Alabama poultry plant, where children were found working on the kill floor deboning poultry and cutting carcasses.

The company, Mar-Jac Poultry, denied knowledge of employing anyone under 18 years old, stating that the minors were hired with documents showing they were of legal age.

Legal Actions Taken

The Department of Labor is seeking a court order to halt the sale and shipment of poultry tainted by oppressive child labor from Mar-Jac’s plant in Alabama.

This follows federal regulators’ condemnation of the preventable death of a 16-year-old worker at a Mar-Jac facility in July 2023.

Previous Violations and Lawsuits

Mar-Jac Poultry faced citations and penalties for safety violations related to the death of the teenager and other incidents in the past.

In addition, the company is currently embroiled in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the mother of the deceased worker.

Ongoing Legal Issues

Court records indicate that Mar-Jac’s Hattiesburg plant has faced lawsuits for injuries sustained on the premises, with one case scheduled for a jury trial.

Furthermore, the Alabama plant was cited for a serious violation by OSHA after an employee was injured.

Rising Concerns about Child Labor

In a concerning trend, the Department of Labor reported a significant increase in child labor law violations, with an alarming number of cases involving minors in hazardous occupations.