A federal court in Minnesota entered a recent consent judgment requiring a national food manufacturing company to adhere to all applicable child labor laws at all of its production facilities and warehouses across the country.
Monogram Meat Snacks LLC agreed to ensure companywide adherence to child labor laws following an investigation that revealed the illegal employment of two teenagers in Minnesota, according to a July 7 news release. The company also resolved to take steps to comply with these laws in the future.
“This case shows we will use all of our legal resources, including invoking the ‘hot goods’ provision, as we announced as part of an increased emphasis on combating child labor, to prevent companies from profiting from illegal child labor," DOL Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said in the release. "Regardless of age, all workers in the U.S. are protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act, and all employers must abide by all of its provisions.”
The court's decision comes in response to an investigation initiated March 28 by the U.S. Department of Labor at Monogram Meat Snacks LLC in Chandler, Minn., the release reported. The investigation uncovered the illegal employment of at least two 16- and 17-year-old youths operating meat-processing equipment, which violated federal child labor hazardous orders.
Monogram Meat Snacks LLC is a subsidiary of Monogram Food Solutions LLC based in Memphis, Tenn., according to the release. The parent company specializes in the production of meat snacks, appetizers, sandwiches, baked goods and other convenience products sold under private labels.
Upon the commencement of the department's Wage and Hour Division investigation, the employer was notified of objections to the shipment of goods from the Chandler facility, the release said. An objection to shipment letter invoking the Fair Labor Standards Act's hot goods provision was issued, preventing the shipping of goods produced through illegal child labor.
The company complied with the department's request April 24 and withheld shipment as discussions on compliance continued, according to the release.
According to the U.S. District Court of Minnesota, Monogram Food Solutions LLC agreed July 6 to a consent order and judgment that mandates compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions at all its production facilities and warehouses nationwide, the release reported. The company will take measures to ensure future compliance, such as hiring an outside compliance specialist and paying civil money penalties of $30,276 for the child labor violations in Chandler.
