Members of Congress are pressing for changes to the law and the Biden administration’s approach as federal and state enforcement agencies begin a crackdown on companies that employ underage migrants.
The agency said it had found thousands of cases where minors were employed in illegal, often dangerous jobs. Congress has accused the health secretary of failing to protect them.
Private auditors have failed to detect migrant children working for U.S. suppliers of Oreos, Gerber baby snacks, McDonald’s milk and many other products.
McDonald’s, Costco and other major brands say they are stepping up efforts to keep minors from the grueling, often dangerous work that goes into their products.
Many sponsors were inadequately vetted and safety checks went unfulfilled, an independent watchdog found. Children ended up in dangerous jobs across the country.
Perdue Farms and JBS have settled with the Labor Department after relying on migrant children to do dangerous work in their slaughterhouses. Most of the money will be used to help the children.