Meat and Poultry Industry Best Practices Workforce Age Verification
Meat and Poultry Industry Best Practices Workforce Age Verification
Children have no place working in meat or poultry packing or processing facilities. The Meat Institute's member companies categorically prohibit the hiring of anyone under the age of 18 to work in their production facilities. Moreover, our member companies do not facilitate, encourage, excuse or in any other way permit the use of child labor in their facilities through the use of subcontractors, such as third-party service providers.
The Meat Institute has been working with our member companies to provide education on child trafficking and identity fraud, and to develop best practices for members to follow in determining workforce eligibility. These best practices have also been shared with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Labor. Companies should develop age verification programs that work for their specific situations, but we believe these practices can serve as an effective framework for members to develop their programs and constitute a deterrent to bad actors who would seek to exploit migrants or utilize prohibited labor sources.
