ACCOMAC, Va. — Perdue Farms has agreed to a $4 million restitution payment after allegations of employing minors in dangerous jobs at one of its Virginia processing plants, as disclosed by the U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday.

The work in question involved hazardous tasks such as deboning chicken with the use of potentially dangerous tools, including electric knives. This practice was found to be in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets regulations on child labor in the United States.

Seema Nanda, the Solicitor of Labor, emphasized the significance of the matter, stating, “Perdue Farms wields considerable influence over the poultry processing sector. By entering into this agreement, they are taking significant steps toward eliminating child labor, not just within their corporate facilities, but also in recognition of their broader corporate responsibility to fight against child labor.”

The settlement will provide restitution to the affected minors, as well as funding for organizations that advocate for child labor prevention. Additionally, Perdue Farms is subject to a $150,000 civil fine.

The allegations also targeted temporary staffing agencies, including Staff Management Solutions LLC and SMX LLC, with claims that they collaborated to place minors in hazardous roles at the Accomac site located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The temporary staffing agencies have been assigned a civil penalty of $125,000.

In light of the investigation, Perdue Farms stated that it fully cooperated with the authorities, noting that the investigation “did not find any current underage workers.” However, the company expressed strong disagreement with the Labor Department’s conclusions, indicating that the agreement includes no admissions of guilt.

Perdue Farms further articulated that an extended conflict with the Department of Labor would not adequately remedy the ongoing child labor issue, suggesting a commitment to address these serious allegations responsibly.