Hawley urges child labor investigation into Tyson Foods
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, has taken a firm stand against child labor practices at Tyson Foods, urging President Donald Trump’s Department of Labor to launch an investigation into the company. This comes after a whistleblower report surfaced, alleging that Tyson Foods had employed underage workers at one of its facilities.
In a letter addressed to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Hawley emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and called for a thorough investigation. The whistleblower, a former Tyson Foods employee responsible for plant safety, claimed to have personally witnessed underage workers at the facility. Additionally, multiple hourly employees reported instances of child labor to the whistleblower. These young workers were allegedly employed by a third-party entity contracted by Tyson for work at the plant.
According to Hawley, the whistleblower faced retaliation and a toxic work environment after raising concerns about child labor to company superiors. The individual ultimately resigned from their position at Tyson, and the company is now pursuing legal action against them in connection to their departure.
Tyson Foods has denied any wrongdoing, stating that they do not permit the employment of individuals under the age of 18 at their facilities. The company also asserted that they do not condone or participate in the use of child labor by third parties. Tyson emphasized their commitment to enforcing labor laws and ensuring the verification of employees’ ages through programs like E-Verify and IMAGE.
During her confirmation hearing, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer expressed her strong stance against child labor, affirming that the Department of Labor would take decisive action against companies found to be exploiting children in their factories. Chavez-DeRemer’s office confirmed receipt of Hawley’s letter and reiterated the department’s dedication to safeguarding children from potential labor violations.
In a separate incident, Tyson Foods faced backlash in 2024 for announcing plans to hire asylum seekers at a Tennessee plant shortly after closing a facility in Iowa, resulting in the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs.
Hawley’s call for an investigation into Tyson Foods underscores the importance of upholding labor laws and protecting vulnerable workers, particularly children. The full text of the letter sent to the labor department can be accessed for further details.
Anders Hagstrom, a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and breaking news, contributed to this report. For more information and tips, contact Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com or follow him on Twitter at @Hagstrom_Anders.
