After food safety sanitation service provider Packers Sanitation Services was fined $1.5 million for employing at least 100 children in hazardous working conditions, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced further efforts to stop violations.
“Too often, companies look the other way and claim that their staffing agency or their subcontractor or supplier is responsible. Everyone has a responsibility here,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.
As part of their efforts, DOL will create a task force to combat child labor exploitation, begin a national initiative to strategize where violations are most likely to occur, hold all employers accountable, mandate follow-up calls for unaccompanied children who report safety concerns, expand post-release service for unaccompanied children, increase funding, call on Congress to increase civil monetary penalties, audit companies and produce training material for children to know their rights.
