Perdue Farms has agreed to pay $4 million in restitution after the U.S. Department of Labor found that the company employed children in hazardous occupations at its Accomac, Virginia plant. The violations included allowing children to work past 7 p.m. during the regular school week and engaging them in dangerous tasks such as deboning chicken using electric knives, which is in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The Department of Labor emphasized the significance of Perdue Farms' influence in the poultry processing industry and commended the company for taking steps to address child labor issues not only within its facilities but also on a broader scale. As part of the agreement, Perdue Farms will provide restitution to the affected children, organizations supporting child labor victims, and contribute to prevention efforts. Additionally, the company will pay a $150,000 fine.
Perdue Farms had contracted with temporary staffing agencies Staff Management Solutions LLC and SMX LLC, which were found to have jointly employed children in hazardous occupations at the Accomac facility on the Eastern Shore. The agencies have agreed to pay a $125,000 civil penalty as part of the resolution.
In response to the investigation, Perdue Farms stated that it cooperated fully and confirmed that there were no current underage workers at the facility. The company expressed disagreement with the Department of Labor's findings, noting that the agreement does not include any admissions of wrongdoing.
Perdue Farms acknowledged the importance of addressing the issue of child labor and emphasized the need for constructive action to combat the crisis. The company recognized that prolonged disputes with regulatory authorities would not contribute to resolving the underlying problems and committed to working towards ensuring compliance with labor laws and safeguarding the well-being of young workers.
