Smithfield Foods has agreed to pay $2 million in a settlement with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) following allegations of child labor violations at a St. James, MN, plant.
“Smithfield contested DLI’s claims and denies that we knowingly hired anyone under the age of 18 to work in our St. James facility,” Smithfield said in a statement. “We have not admitted liability as part of this settlement; however, in the interest of preventing the distraction of prolonged litigation, we have agreed to settle this matter.”
DLI alleged the company employed 11 underage children between April 2021 and April 2023. Meat processing facilities are prohibited from employing individuals under 18, but Smithfield maintains the individuals passed the E-Verify employment eligibility system by using false identification. The company said it has taken steps to enforce its policy prohibiting the employment of minors.
