Tragic Death of Teen at Mississippi Poultry Plant Under Federal Investigation
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
A 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died after getting trapped in machinery at a poultry processing plant in Mississippi, prompting federal investigations. This is the third death at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in the past three years. The incident has reignited concerns about child labor as Republican lawmakers push to relax protections. Federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from working in hazardous occupations, but there has been a 69% increase in children being employed illegally since 2018. The Labor Department has recorded over 3,800 cases of illegal child labor in fiscal year 2022. The death of the teenager has led to investigations by OSHA and the Wage and Hour Division. The company claims the victim's age and identity were misrepresented on paperwork and that it relies on staffing companies for hiring.
