Federal investigators uncovered child labor violations at Mar Jac Poultry’s plant in Jasper, Alabama, prompting a request to halt sales of chicken produced under these conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor filed a civil action on May 7 to stop production and sales through May 31.
The investigation revealed six underage workers engaged in deboning poultry and cutting carcasses on the kill floor. Mar Jac claims the minors used falsified documents and were terminated upon discovery, arguing that halting sales would harm over 1,000 employees and disrupt operations.
Previously, Mar Jac faced a major violation involving the death of a 16-year-old worker in Mississippi. The recent violations were found following a tip-off about underage workers handling live chickens.
Debbie Berkowitz, a worker safety expert, noted that child labor violations increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to labor shortages. She emphasized that Mar Jac’s repeated violations indicate a systemic issue.
The court’s decision on the sales halt will significantly impact Mar Jac and potentially set a precedent for the industry.
