SIOUX CITY, IA – The Department of Labor has reached an agreement with Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, a Tennessee cleaning contractor, to address violations related to child labor employment in sanitation contracts. The company has agreed to pay $649,304 in civil money penalties and take proactive steps to prevent the employment of children in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division revealed that at least 24 children, some as young as 13 years old, were employed by Fayette Janitorial Service at two separate slaughtering and meat packing facilities. Regional Solicitor Christine Heri expressed the Department of Labor's commitment to preventing such exploitation, stating, "Children in hazardous occupations drove the Fair Labor Standards Act’s passage in 1938. Yet in 2024, we still find U.S. companies employing children in risky jobs, jeopardizing their safety for profit."
As part of the consent order and judgment, Fayette Industrial, as the company operates, must hire a third-party consultant to review and implement policies to prevent child labor violations. Wage and Hour Midwest Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri emphasized the importance of ensuring children are not exposed to dangerous work environments, stating, "With this agreement, we are ensuring Fayette Janitorial Service takes immediate and significant steps to ensure they never put children in harm’s way again."
The agreement also includes provisions such as maintaining accurate records of employees, imposing disciplinary sanctions on management personnel responsible for violations, and establishing a toll-free hotline for reporting child labor compliance concerns anonymously.
In the last fiscal year, over 5,800 children were found to be employed in violation of federal child labor laws. The Department of Labor continues to encourage workers and employers to reach out confidentially with questions or concerns regarding child labor regulations and enforcement.
For more information on the Fair Labor Standards Act and other related laws, individuals can contact the division's toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).
U.S Department of Labor v. Fayette Janitorial Service LLC d/b/a Fayette Industrial
Civil Action: 5:24-cv-4012
