U.S. Department of Labor Reaches Agreement with JBS USA to Address Child Labor Compliance in Meat Packing Industry

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has secured an agreement with JBS USA Food Co., the nation’s largest meat packing processor. The company, which operates across numerous U.S. facilities, has committed to a $4 million fund aimed at assisting individuals and communities impacted by child labor practices. This agreement follows a series of DOL investigations that uncovered unlawful child labor at JBS’s facilities.

Under the terms of the agreement, JBS will take responsibility for ensuring that its supply chain, third-party contractors, and service providers adhere to child labor regulations. The company is also committing to proactive measures, including public education campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal child labor in the industry.

A Clear Stand Against Child Labor

“JBS USA Food Co. has adopted innovative and effective compliance strategies to combat illegal child labor,” said Jessica Looman, Wage and Hour Administrator at the Department of Labor. “By taking responsibility for the children who were employed in hazardous conditions at its facilities, JBS is setting a high bar for others in the industry, outlining enforceable solutions to prevent further incidents of child labor.”

The $4 million fund will prioritize relief efforts in five key communities: Guntersville, Alabama; Greeley, Colorado; Ottumwa, Iowa; Worthington, Minnesota; and Grand Island, Nebraska. The fund will provide scholarships, stipends, educational aid, and job training, among other services. It will also assist local organizations in offering English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, literacy programs, and housing support to victims of child labor.

Industry Responsibility & the Role of Contractors

The Department of Labor’s Solicitor, Seema Nanda, stressed the importance of large host companies like JBS using their influence to prevent illegal child labor not just within their direct operations, but also throughout their supply chains. “This agreement signals a critical step forward in ensuring that children are no longer placed in harm’s way by JBS or its contractors,” Nanda said.

In addition to the financial commitment, JBS will implement a series of compliance measures. These include:

• Hosting a symposium with industry leaders, non-profits, and advocacy groups to share best practices for preventing illegal child labor in the sector.
• Hiring a dedicated child labor compliance specialist responsible for reviewing existing policies, developing training materials, and conducting unannounced audits at JBS facilities.
• Establishing a toll-free ethics hotline to anonymously report compliance issues.
• Requiring a zero-tolerance child labor policy in contracts with third-party sanitation and poultry catching services.
• Conducting outreach campaigns to educate communities about child labor laws, with a focus on states where violations occurred: Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

The DOL’s investigation into JBS’s third-party contractors revealed widespread violations of federal child labor laws. Between 2022 and 2024, investigators found that children were employed in dangerous conditions, including overnight shifts, at JBS facilities in multiple states. In 2024 alone, the department uncovered over 4,000 instances of illegal child labor across various industries, with many of these violations tied to third-party sanitation contractors in the meatpacking industry.

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