They’re Paid Billions to Root Out Child Labor in the U.S. Why Do They Fail?
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Dec 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Costco - Client , UL - Other Value Chain EntityOther
Not Reported ( Agriculture & livestock ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported )Issues
Work & Conditions , Access to Non-Judicial RemedyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Journalists
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: UL Solutions did not reply to the journalists about the incident. UL replied to the Resource Centre; Costco did not.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Dec 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Walgreens (part of Walgreens Boots Alliance) - Client , Monogram Foods - Employer , UL - Other Value Chain EntityAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Slaughterhouses , Gender not reported )Issues
Occupational Health & Safety , Child labourResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Journalists
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In response to journalists, Walgreens said it had cut ties with the supplier. Monogram said it is now using stronger age-verification procedures. Walgreens also responded to the Resource Centre's request for comment.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Dec 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Packers Sanitation Service (PSSI) - Employer , JBS - Client , Cargill - Client , Tyson - Client , McDonald's - Client , Costco - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Cleaning & maintenance , Gender not reported )Issues
Child labour , Occupational Health & Safety , InjuriesResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Journalists
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Costco and McDonald’s said in statements that they were strengthening their auditing standards. Packers said it had improved age verification of its workers. McDonalds & PSSI replied to the resource Centre; Costco did not.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Dec 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Kellanova (formerly Kellogg) - Client , Gerber - Client , Hearthside Food Solutions - Employer , Mars - Client , Mondelēz International - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Guatemala , Manufacturing: General , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Child labour , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Right to Education , Excessive production targetsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalists & Resource Centre
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: The companies (clients) told journalists in statements that they had not seen indications of child labor in any inspections. Hearthside told journalists said it “has never knowingly employed underage labor in our facilities.” Hearthside, Kellanova, Mondelez International responded to the Resource Centre's request for comment.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 28 Dec 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Costco - Client , McDonald's - Client , Nestlé - Client , Safeway USA (part of Albertsons) - Client , Darigold - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - Mexico , Agriculture & livestock , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Child labour , Occupational Health & Safety , Injuries , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Access to Information , Right to EducationResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Resource Centre & Journalists
Story containing response: (Find out more)
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In separate statements, Costco and Darigold said they had not been aware of any child labor issues and would investigate. McDonald’s, Nestlé and Safeway said in statements that they expect suppliers to comply with their responsible sourcing standards. Nestle, Darigold, Albertsons, and McDonalds replied to the Resource Centre.
Source type: News outlet
…Migrant children would work at the Monogram Meat Snacks plant in Chandler, Minn., for almost four more years…
… private audits have become the solution to a host of public relations headaches for corporations…Known as social compliance audits, they have grown into an $80 billion global industry…
Children were overlooked by auditors who were moving quickly, leaving early or simply not sent to the part of the supply chain where minors were working…
Auditors did not catch instances in which children were working on Skittles and Starburst candies, Hefty brand party cups, the pork in McDonald’s sandwiches, Gerber baby snacks, Oreos, Cheez-Its or the milk that comes with Happy Meals…
…Mr. Callington failed three Walgreens suppliers in 2017 and 2018 for abusive working conditions, the chain complained about his communication style and asked for him to be taken off its account. UL [Solutions] put him on a remediation plan for about a year…
These plants had been supplying McDonald’s and Costco for years, and the corporations required regular audits…
…a 16-year-old from Guatemala was killed while cleaning a Mississippi slaughterhouse that supplies Chick-fil-A…
…Darigold also supplies McDonald’s and Nestlé and processes Safeway’s house brand Lucerne. None of those corporations inspect the dairies where the milk originates…