The U.S. Department of Labor has secured a consent judgment in federal court mandating a City of Industry meat processor and a Downey staffing agency to forfeit $327,484 in illegal profits from sales linked to oppressive child labor. Additionally, the employers must pay $62,516 in penalties.
The June 20, 2024 judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California follows an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division. The investigation found that A&J Meats and The Right Hire jointly employed children as young as 15, exposing them to hazardous conditions such as using sharp knives and working inside freezers and coolers, violating federal child labor regulations.
“A&J Meats and The Right Hire knowingly endangered these children’s safety and put their companies’ profits before the well-being of these minors,” said Western Regional Solicitor of Labor Marc Pilotin in San Francisco. “These employers egregiously violated federal law and now both have learned about the serious consequences for those who so callously expose children to harm.”
Investigators determined that children worked at the facility more than three hours on school days, past 7 p.m., and more than 18 hours per week while school was in session. The Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits employing children under 18 in dangerous occupations, including most jobs in meat processing establishments.
The judgment also prohibits A&J Meats, owner Priscilla Helen Castillo, and The Right Hire staffing agency from future FLSA violations or trading goods linked to oppressive child labor. They must provide annual FLSA training for at least four years and undergo monitoring by an independent third party for three years.
Castillo’s father, Tony Bran, was previously found illegally employing children at three poultry processing companies he operates. In October 2023, the same court ordered his companies to cease endangering children, withholding pay, retaliating against workers, and shipping goods produced in violation of overtime and child labor laws.
“No employer should ever profit from exploited children,” said Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Ruben Rosalez in San Francisco. “When we find children employed in violation of the law, we will take steps to ensure that we can hold all employers accountable under the law. Companies that use staffing agencies cannot escape liability for child labor violations when they are also employers themselves.”
The department urges businesses to monitor their supply chains closely to ensure goods are not made with illegal child labor.
The department continues its efforts against child labor abuses and wage theft within poultry and meat processing industries nationwide.
For more information about the Wage and Hour Division or if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division: call toll-free at 1-866-4-US-WAGE (487-9243) or download the department's Android or iOS Timesheet App available in English or Spanish.
