WASHINGTON — Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sent a letter to Tyson Foods Chief Executive Officer Donnie King on Sept. 19, inquiring about allegations of the processor partaking in illegal child labor practices.
Hawley wrote to King following the publication of a New York Times article, “The Kids on the Night Shift,” which “exposed unsafe, illegal child labor practices within the company,” according to a press release from the senator’s office.
As author of the Corporate Responsibility for Child Labor Elimination Act — legislation that would force corporations to eradicate unlawful child labor — Hawley expressed concern over claims made in the Times article.
“I am alarmed by new reports that Tyson Foods has actively participated in dangerous and illegal child labor practices,” Hawley wrote in the letter. “Any company that employs, facilitates, encourages or excuses child labor must be held to account. In light of the facts, you owe the American people an explanation as to Tyson’s child-labor practices.”
He included a series of questions in the letter for King and Tyson to answer following the article:
- To your knowledge, how many instances of child labor violations have occurred at Tyson facilities in the past five years?
- Is Tyson fully cooperating with the Department of Labor and any other state or federal authorities that may be investigating the company over potential violations of child labor law?
- What internal controls are in place to ensure that Tyson does not employ underage workers, or subcontract with companies that employ underage workers?
- In light of the Times report, what changes to company policy will Tyson be making?
- How does Tyson currently handle complaints from its employees or employees of its subcontractors regarding child labor?
- Will Tyson pledge to protect whistleblowers who raise concerns regarding child labor?
- Will you commit to ending any contracts with companies that have been fined for illegally employing children?
- Will you commit to an independent audit to ensure that Tyson’s entire production chain is free of illegal child labor?
Last week, the senator spoke with King, according to a tweet on Hawley’s X account.
“I spoke with the CEO of Tyson Foods today, Donnie King,” he wrote on Sept. 15. “He told me, first, Tyson is willing to sell its facilities in Dexter and Noel, Missouri, to any interested party — including a competitor.”
The conversation between the Tyson CEO and the senator came as Hawley introduced new legislation to “break up giant meatpacking and poultry monopolies.”
