Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has urged the Department of Labor to investigate Tyson Foods following allegations of illegal child labor practices. In a letter addressed to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Hawley highlighted claims made by a whistleblower concerning the employment of underage workers at a Tyson processing plant.

Senator Hawley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, emphasized his commitment to investigating these allegations within his subcommittee. He called upon Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to conduct a thorough investigation into these claims due to her role in enforcing federal labor laws.

"The whistleblower, a former Tyson Foods employee who oversaw plant safety, alleges that they personally witnessed underage workers and also received multiple reports from hourly Tyson employees about child workers in the plant," Hawley stated. According to these allegations, the child workers were hired through a third-party entity contracted by Tyson.

Hawley's letter referenced previous statements made by Secretary Chavez-DeRemer during her confirmation hearing regarding child labor enforcement. "Child labor should not be accepted by anybody in America. The Department of Labor has the enforcement capability to double down if [companies] are knowingly breaking the law and exploiting children in their factories," she had testified.

Senator Hawley also noted that after raising concerns internally, the whistleblower faced retaliation and subsequently left Tyson due to what they described as a "toxic work environment." He mentioned that Tyson is pursuing legal action against the whistleblower related to their departure.

The senator cited investigative reports from The New York Times documenting similar issues within poultry processing plants, including those operated by Tyson. These reports suggested that subcontractors were used as a means for companies like Tyson to evade accountability for employing minors illegally.

Hawley reiterated his stance against child exploitation and urged Secretary Chavez-DeRemer to keep his subcommittee informed about any developments in the investigation into these allegations against Tyson Foods.