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FACT BRIEF

Did a Wisconsin-based slaughterhouse illegally employ minors?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
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YES

Packers Sanitation Services Inc., headquartered in Kieler, Wisconsin, illegally employed at least 102 children in hazardous jobs, some of whom worked overnight shifts, according to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. 

The investigation found "systemic" child labor violations covering minors between the ages of 13 and 17 in 13 meat processing facilities across eight states. At least three minors suffered injuries as a result of work for PSSI, the labor department said. 

PSSI paid $1.5 million in civil penalties — $15,138 for each illegally employed minor — in addition to agreeing to take measures to comply with child labor provisions under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

PSSI said in a statement to CBS that it maintains a company-wide "zero-tolerance" policy for employing minors and that none of the minors investigated work at the company today. 

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
US Department of Labor More than 100 children illegally employed in hazardous jobs, federal investigation finds; food sanitation contractor pays $1.5M in penalties
US Department of Labor Dec. 6 consent order and judgment
CBS News Meat-plant contractor hired kids to clean 'razor-sharp saws' with chemicals, government says
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Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
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Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.