On Wednesday, the Biden administration asked major meatpackers to verify their supply chains for child labor.
The Department of Labor supported the letter to end child labor. Since 2018, U.S. child labor has climbed 69%.
According to the Labor Department, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., which cleans meatpacker slaughterhouses, unlawfully employed over 100 children in February. As a result, the city corporation was fined $1.5 million.
Tom Vilsack’s letter urged meat and poultry companies to monitor their supply chains for child labor and enhance subcontractor child labor laws.
Vilsack advised food manufacturers, especially those with market power, to monitor supplier standards to minimize chronic breaches and abuses.
Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N), Smithfield Foods Inc, JBS USA Llc, and Perdue Farms Inc. received the letter.
An agency spokesman said the Department of Agriculture is evaluating enforcement options to boost food supply chain child labor monitoring and aims to act.
