Mar-Jac Poultry Faces Federal Crackdown After Minors Found in Hazardous Jobs
Mar-Jac Poultry AL LLC, an Alabama-based processor, must pay $385,000 in penalties for illegally employing children as young as 13 in hazardous jobs, including operating forklifts and working on the kill floor, the U.S. Department of Labor announced.
The May 21, 2025, consent judgment follows a Wage and Hour Division investigation revealing violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, such as minors working overnight shifts.
This marks the second probe since a 2023 incident where a 16-year-old died in a machine at Mar-Jac’s Mississippi plant.
The company must now hire compliance specialists, update training, and allow unannounced federal inspections.
“Mar-Jac’s repeated violations, including a child’s death, demand accountability,” said Regional Administrator Juan Coria.
The case exposes the urgent need to protect young workers in dangerous industries, spotlighting ongoing labor law enforcement efforts.
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