Poultry processor settles charges of endangering young workers

A California poultry processor and supplier will pay nearly $3.8 million in back wages, damages and penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor found it recklessly endangered young workers.

The DOL said Monday that investigators from its Wage and Hour Division found The Exclusive Poultry Inc., based in Avocado Heights, California, and related companies established by owner Tony Bran, employed children as young as 14 years old to debone poultry using sharp knives and to operate power-driven lifts to move pallets.

The children also worked excessive hours in violation of federal child labor regulations, and the company retaliated against employees for cooperating with investigators by cutting their wages, the agency said.

The DOL said Mr. Bran and the company are subject to a consent judgment entered by the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Nov. 16 after an investigation and litigation by the department. Also subject to consent agreements are front companies established by Mr. Bran, the agency said.

The judgments resolve a lawsuit filed by the department.

The DOL’s Office of the Solicitor obtained from the court a temporary restraining order and an injunction to prevent Mr. Bran and The Exclusive Poultry from shipping poultry produced in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act and any goods from any location where the department observed child labor.

Under the consent judgment, Mr. Bran and The Exclusive Poultry will pay $3.5 million in back wages and damages to affected workers.  Of that total, $300,000 in punitive damages and $100,614 in back wages will be paid to workers who faced retaliation.

The employers must also pay $201,104 in civil penalties assessed by the division for the child labor and willful violations, among other terms.

The company’s attorney did not respond to a request for comment.