St. James, Minn.'s Smithfield meat-processing plant the latest to face allegations of child labor

A St. James meat-processing plant not far from similar southern Minnesota plants owned by companies penalized last year for violating child labor laws has been fined $2 million for allegedly illegally employing teenagers in dangerous, late-night jobs.

According to allegations disclosed by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry on Thursday, the Smithfield plant employed 11 minors between the ages of 14 and 17, often working into the evening and overnight with hazardous machinery, meat grinders and near chemicals, in violation of state child labor laws.

Smithfield Packaging Meats Corp., a subsidiary of Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, did not agree with the allegations, which are contained in a consent order filed with the Watonwan County courthouse. Nevertheless, the company will pay $2 million in an administrative penalty in terms disclosed by a consent order with the MDLI. The state agency conducted a two-year investigation into Smithfield’s St. James plant. According to the consent order, Smithfield cooperated with the investigation.

“It is unacceptable for a company to employ minor children to perform hazardous work late at night,” said MDLI Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, in a prepared statement. “This illegal behavior impacts children’s health, safety and well-being and their ability to focus on their education and their future.”