When the Department of Labor discovered more than 100 immigrant children cleaning Midwestern slaughterhouses in February, their employer, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), paid a $1.5 million fine and agreed to stop hiring children. According to PSSI, employees who spoke to NBC News said they quickly fired those who were minors.
But a 16-year-old, whom NBC News calls Pedro, says he still cleans up blood and animal parts left on the floor of a Kansas slaughterhouse up to seven nights a week, a job that is illegal for anyone under the age of 18, under US labor law. Pedro spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity. Although the work is hard, dangerous and exhausting, he fears losing his salary because it would put him and his family in Guatemala in an impossible situation.
From 11 pm to 6 am, Pedro is responsible for transporting the animal parts in a cart, mopping up the blood on the floor, and cleaning the machines with harsh chemicals. He is proud of that work and said it is extremely quick to finish on time.
“Where they kill the cows. I have to clean up all the blood from the cows until I’m done. I have to leave my area clean,” said Pedro.
PSSI has asked NBC News to reveal Pedro’s identity so he can be fired immediately, but NBC News won’t do it lest he fear losing the job he says he needs. The company said it would redouble its efforts to find him.
Read the full story at NBCNews.com.
