Underage Worker Tragically Killed in Poultry Plant Mishap with False Identity

A 16-year-old employee at a Mississippi poultry plant died after being sucked into equipment, and it was revealed that he had obtained the job using the identity of a 32-year-old man. This incident highlights the ease with which migrant children are finding work in dangerous industries and the challenges companies face in verifying their true ages. The number of children working illegally has nearly doubled since 2019, with ongoing child labor investigations across industries. Mar-Jac Poultry, the company involved, blamed a staffing agency for the hiring of the teenager. The Labor Department is investigating the hiring of the minor and the accident itself, while the Department of Homeland Security is supporting the investigation. Other companies, including Tyson Foods and Perdue Farms, are also under investigation for alleged child labor violations.