To say a lot has been happening in the meat production industry lately is a vast understatement. Between plant closures, child labor issues, and a projected decrease in the U.S. cattle herd inventory, packers are being forced to adjust their businesses.
As a result of a crackdown by the U.S. Department of Labor and pressure from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, JBS announced earlier this year that they’d be bringing some of their sanitation services in-house. Following child labor allegations, JBS terminated contracts with third-party sanitation provider Packer Sanitation Services Inc. at numerous facilities, including locations cited in the Department of Labor’s complaint.
In addition to the new cleaning crews, JBS USA and Pilgrim’s have established an internal whistleblower hotline, where employees can confidentially report any suspicious activity regarding the presence of underage workers.
The company has also provided local school districts access to the JBS Ethics Line for confidential reporting regarding suspected child labor incidents.
The new full-service food safety and food plant sanitation business has been dubbed JBS Sanitation and will provide sanitation services for JBS USA and Pilgrim’s facilities moving forward.
JBS USA will immediately begin the transition of 10 facilities to JBS Sanitation, expecting to move additional facilities to the new company if third-party service providers cannot meet JBS USA’s audit and compliance standards.
All JBS Sanitation team members and their child dependents will also be eligible to receive a tuition-free community college education as a part of the JBS USA Better Futures program.
“The revelations about child labor among subcontractors in meatpacking plants are simply unacceptable, and it has been heartening to see JBS USA’s willingness to proactively move to address this egregious situation,” said Marc Perrone, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union president.
JBS Sanitation promises to adhere to the highest food safety, sanitation, employment verification, and compliance standards. JBS USA and Pilgrim’s also say that they will continue to utilize the services of third-party sanitation providers only if they can meet the same employment verification standards used by JBS USA and verify compliance through a JBS-approved third-party auditor.
