The Department of Labor recently reached a significant agreement with a Tennessee cleaning contractor, Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, after an investigation uncovered egregious violations of child labor laws. The consent order and judgment, approved by a federal court in Iowa on May 6, 2024, requires Fayette Janitorial Service LLC to pay $649,304 in civil money penalties. Additionally, the company must take substantial measures to prevent the illegal employment of children in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The investigation revealed that Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, operating as Fayette Industrial, had employed at least 24 children, some as young as 13 years old, for overnight sanitation shifts at two separate meat packing facilities. These facilities, Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC in Sioux City and Perdue Farms in Accomac, Virginia, were found to have exposed children to hazardous conditions, in clear violation of federal child labor laws.
Following the discovery of these violations, the Department of Labor obtained a preliminary injunction against Fayette Janitorial Service LLC in February 2024, prompting the company to agree to nationwide compliance. Provisions in the FLSA prohibit the employment of children under 18 in hazardous occupations, particularly those common in meat and poultry processing facilities.
At the Seaboard Triumph facility, federal investigators observed children using corrosive cleaners on dangerous equipment, including head splitters and bandsaws. Shockingly, at least one child had suffered severe injuries at the Perdue Farms plant while attempting to remove debris from dangerous machinery.
Christine Heri, Regional Solicitor for the Department of Labor, emphasized the agency’s commitment to ending the exploitation and endangerment of children in the workplace. The consent order and judgment require Fayette Industrial to hire a third-party consultant to review company policies, provide training, and monitor compliance for at least three years. Additionally, Fayette Industrial must establish disciplinary measures for any management personnel responsible for child labor violations and establish a toll-free hotline for reporting compliance concerns.
Michael Lazzeri, Wage and Hour Midwest Regional Administrator, stressed the importance of employers fulfilling their legal and moral obligations to protect children from hazardous work environments. He emphasized that this agreement ensures Fayette Janitorial Service takes immediate and significant steps to prevent future violations.
This case underscores the Department of Labor’s commitment to enforcing child labor laws and holding employers accountable for their actions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights and safety of all workers, especially vulnerable children.
