Smithfield Foods, a major meat processor in the United States, has agreed to pay $2 million to settle allegations of child labor violations at its plant in St. James, Minnesota. The settlement comes after an investigation by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry revealed that Smithfield Packaged Meats employed at least 11 children aged 14 to 17 at the plant between April 2021 and April 2023.
The agency found that three of the children were hired at the age of 14 and that nine of them were allowed to work beyond the permissible hours. Additionally, all 11 children were reportedly assigned to perform potentially hazardous tasks at the facility.
