WASHINGTON — A dozen senators urged the Department of Labor (DOL) to hold companies accountable for violating child labor laws.

In a letter directed to DOL Acting Secretary Julie Su, the senators voiced concerns of multiple reports in recent months of child labor violations in the United States.

“We appreciate the efforts the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor (DOL) are taking to eliminate this scourge,” the senators wrote. “However, these recent reports highlight the need to take further steps to protect children from dangerous employment that could result in injury and even death.”

The letter refers to the DOL’s investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), where over 100 minors were discovered to have been cleaning meatpacking plants around the nation. PSSI paid $1.5 million in civil penalties following the investigation.

The senators affirmed the penalties issued to PSSI but requested that other companies that benefit from contractors engaging in illegal child labor practices to likewise be held accountable.

“While we agree that subcontractors who directly hire children for these dangerous jobs should be held accountable, we firmly believe that DOL also should investigate companies that choose to work with such subcontractors,” they said.

Last month, DOL opened an investigation into two poultry processors, Tyson Foods Inc. and Perdue Farms.

The department began its investigation into the companies after a New York Times Magazine article was published, alleging the companies’ involvement with child labor. Specifically, the report raised concerns about an influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children working long hours in hazardous work conditions.

In addition to urging the DOL to strengthen enforcement of child labor laws, the senators asked the department “to consider additional means by which to provide eligible vulnerable noncitizen youth — particularly recent arrivals who are unaccompanied — access to safe and appropriate work opportunities.”

The letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

CORRECTION: A previous version of the article stated that PSSI contracted with Tyson and Perdue Farms, which led to the ongoing DOL investigation. 

Tyson or Perdue contracting with PSSI was not the basis of the DOL opening an investigation at these Virginia locations in September or October of 2023. PSSI did not serve as the sanitation services for Tyson or Perdue’s Accomack area plants.