Company Fined for Employing Children at Meat Processing Plant

The U.S. Labor Department has levied fines against Qvest LLC, revealing a troubling pattern of child labor violations that persist in American industry.

At a Glance

Qvest LLC fined nearly $172,000 for hiring 11 minors at a pork factory in Sioux City, Iowa.
Minors worked in dangerous conditions from September 2019 to 2023.
This follows another $649,000 fine issued earlier this year against a different cleaning company at the same facility for similar violations.
Qvest and Seaboard Triumph Foods claim no minors were knowingly hired.

Violations Uncovered at Sioux City Facility

The U.S. Labor Department has fined Qvest LLC almost $172,000 for employing 11 minors to clean hazardous equipment at the Seaboard Triumph Foods pork factory in Sioux City. These minors worked from September 2019 through September 2023, using corrosive cleaners on dangerous machinery.

Qvest and Seaboard Triumph Foods insist no minors were hired intentionally, suggesting that fraudulent documentation allowed the underage workers to obtain employment.

A cleaning company has been fined $171,000 after federal investigators found 11 children working a "dangerous" overnight shift at a meat processing plant in Iowa. https://t.co/ZQgDH9KwAy

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 4, 2024

Persisting Challenges with Child Labor

Another cleaning company working at the same Sioux City facility and at a separate Virginia facility received a fine exceeding $649,000 due to similar violations earlier this year. Despite changes in sanitation contractors, underage workers reportedly continued to be employed in hazardous roles at the plant.

“These findings illustrate Seaboard Triumph Foods’ history of children working illegally in their Sioux City facility since at least September 2019. Despite changing sanitation contractors, children continued to work in dangerous occupations at this facility,” Michael Lazzeri of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division said.

Efforts are being made to combat these issues, including hiring third-party consultants for compliance and improving HR protocols to spot illegal identification.

Accountability and Compliance

The U.S. Labor Department enforces strict compliance with child labor laws. Federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from working in meat processing. Qvest must adhere to a court order to avoid oppressive child labor and pay the fines levied.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is determined to end the illegal employment of children in our nation’s workplaces. We are committed to using all strategies to stop and prevent unlawful child labor and holding all employers legally responsible for their actions. Children should never be hired to perform dangerous and prohibited tasks,” Regional Solicitor Christine Heri said.

Qvest has expanded its HR resources and improved employee training, pledging a commitment to compliance and the prevention of future incidences of child labor violations.