A federal court in Minnesota has entered a consent judgment that requires Monogram Meat Snacks to comply with the federal child labor laws at all of its production facilities and warehouses nationwide, and to take significant steps to comply with these laws in the future.
The court’s action follows a U.S. Department of Labor investigation opened on March 28, 2023, at Monogram Meat Snacks in Chandler, Minn., that found the company employed at least two 16- and 17-year-old children to operate meat processing equipment in violation of federal child labor hazardous orders. The company is a subsidiary of Monogram Food Solutions LLC in Memphis, Tenn.
Shortly after investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division began, the department notified the employer that it objected to the shipment of goods from its Chandler facility and issued an “Objection to Shipment letter” that cited the Fair Labor Standards Act’s “hot goods” provision. The provision prevents employers from shipping goods produced illegally by child labor. On April 24, 2023, the company agreed to the department’s request and withheld shipment of the goods as discussions about compliance with the department continued.
On July 6, 2023, the U.S. District Court of Minnesota entered a consent order and judgment, in which Monogram Food Solutions agreed to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor provisions at all of its production facilities and warehouses nationwide and ensure future compliance with child labor laws, including hiring an outside compliance specialist within 90 days.
The employer agreed to pay $30,276 in civil money penalties for the child labor violations in Chandler.
The investigation of Monogram is part of the division’s overall effort to combat child labor announced earlier this year. Since 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor has seen a 69% increase in children being employed illegally by companies.
