- cross-posted to:
- usnews@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- usnews@beehaw.org
A 16-year-old employee who died after getting sucked into equipment at a Mississippi poultry plant got the job using the identity of a 32-year-old man, a new revelation that highlights the ease with which migrant children are finding work in a dangerous industry, and the challenges companies face in trying to evaluate their true ages.
Duvan Pérez, who was hired to clean up at Mar-Jac Poultry in Hattiesburg, which supplies chicken to companies like Chick-fil-A, died on July 14. Within hours of his death, questions about his true age were raised by a local Facebook news site, and he was soon determined to be 16.
It’s illegal for minors to work in slaughterhouses, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers among the most perilous workplaces in the country.
The number of children working illegally has skyrocketed across all industries, according to the Labor Department, nearly doubling since 2019. More than 800 child labor investigations in 47 states are ongoing across industries, according to the agency.
Adam Conover has a nice short video on the rise in child labor:
https://youtu.be/_ve6BqXzbjw?si=w17wg9G2xN5Z2oKQ
It’s because we don’t turn away unaccompanied minors like we do adults at the border. So more parents send their kids alone or separately. If we were not as harsh with adults at the border, it would likely be a lot better.
Didn’t Republican controlled Save The Children states make this type of Child Labor LEGAL?
being vegan isn’t just about your health, the climate, or the protection of animals; it’s about disassembling this horrific industry from the ground up. animal agriculture is inherently exploitative and stories like these are just another reason among many to make the connection and get on the right side of these issues.
Now why do I doubt that anyone of the bosses responsible for this hiring will be held personally accountable? I have a sneaking suspicion some measly fines (compared to company profits) will be the result of the vast majority of these ‘investigations.’
I hope I’m wrong.
More than 800 child labor investigations in 47 states are ongoing across industries, according to the agency.
So when do the feds say enough is enough and implement severe penalties for all involved; ie: all profits the companies made x number of children working, charges/jail time for those who approved the kids to work? Cause whatever they are doing now obviously isn’t enough.
When are they going to make sure that all families have enough money to live on so that the children do not need to work?
so… HR was corrupt or the hiring manager had a quota to fill or… ?
Very obviously not 32, doesn’t even look 18, but sure I suppose it could be. But is this 32 year old man he supposedly is even real? Is there a social he gave for a 32 year old? Or he just say “yeah I’m 32.” And they’re like “cool deniable enough for me!”