Sioux City Meat Processing Cleaners Fined $171K for Hiring Minors in Hazardous Jobs

Qvest LLC, a sanitation company based in Guymon, Oklahoma, has been fined $171,919 for employing children in dangerous nightshift roles at a pork processing plant in Sioux City, Iowa.

These violations, which persisted from September 2019 through September 2023, were flagged by a U.S. Department of Labor investigation.

Child Labor Violations Persist Despite Contractor Change

The breaches occurred at the Seaboard Triumph Foods LLC facility, where Qvest employed 11 minors to clean hazardous equipment, including head splitters and bandsaws.

Michael Lazzeri, Wage and Hour Midwest Regional Administrator, highlighted the ongoing violations despite a change in contractors.

“These findings illustrate Seaboard Triumph Foods’ history of children working illegally in their Sioux City facility since at least September 2019,” Lazzeri stated.

Under federal law, employing minors in hazardous jobs within meat processing facilities is strictly prohibited. Christine Z. Heri, Regional Solicitor, emphasized the Department of Labor’s stance, saying, “Children should never be hired to perform dangerous and prohibited tasks.”

Penalties and Required Reforms

In addition to the monetary penalty, Qvest has been ordered to hire an independent third party to review and enforce company policies that prevent child labor violations.

This directive underscores the company’s failure to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, even as sanitation contracts transitioned to Fayette Janitorial Service LLC in 2023.

The investigation revealed that the minors were exposed to corrosive chemicals while cleaning high-risk equipment.

Heri reiterated the Department of Labor’s commitment, stating, “We are committed to using all strategies to stop and prevent unlawful child labor and holding all employers legally responsible for their actions.”

This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable workers, with federal authorities intensifying efforts to ensure workplace compliance nationwide.

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