Tyson Accused of Illegal Hires While Axing Americans

Whistleblower allegations expose Tyson Foods for allegedly employing child labor through third-party contractors while simultaneously closing U.S. plants and laying off over 4,200 American workers, prompting Senator Josh Hawley to launch a full investigation into the food processing giant.

Key Takeaways

• Senator Josh Hawley has launched an investigation through the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime into Tyson Foods for alleged child labor violations.
• A whistleblower and former Tyson employee reports witnessing underage workers at a Tyson processing plant, hired through third-party contractors to shield the company from liability.
• Tyson allegedly retaliated against the whistleblower, creating a toxic work environment that led to their resignation, and is now pursuing legal action against them.
• While employing illegal aliens and children, Tyson closed eight meatpacking plants across Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana in 2023, resulting in over 4,200 American workers losing their jobs.
• The Department of Labor has confirmed ongoing investigations into Tyson Foods and its contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Hawley Demands Action on Child Labor Allegations

Senator Josh Hawley is taking direct aim at food processing giant Tyson Foods over disturbing allegations of child labor violations. The Missouri Republican has opened a formal investigation through his role as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime after receiving credible information from a whistleblower who previously worked at the company. According to the whistleblower, Tyson Foods knowingly employed underage workers at one of its processing plants, potentially violating federal child labor laws that exist to protect minors from dangerous working conditions.

In a pointed letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Hawley outlined the gravity of the situation and called for immediate action. “As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, I have been contacted by a whistleblower who alleges that Tyson Foods used child workers at one of its processing plants—in likely violation of federal child labor law. I have opened an investigation in my Subcommittee. Given your role in enforcing federal labor law, I urge you to fully investigate these troubling allegations immediately,” Josh Hawley stated in his official communication with the Department of Labor.

Corporate Shield: Third-Party Contractors and Whistleblower Retaliation

The whistleblower’s account reveals a troubling pattern at Tyson Foods, where the company allegedly uses third-party contractors to distance itself from illegal labor practices. This arrangement creates a convenient shield of plausible deniability for the corporation while still benefiting from underage labor. When the New York Times published reports on child labor in poultry processing plants, including Tyson’s operations, it highlighted this exact strategy of using subcontractors to avoid liability for labor violations, lending further credibility to the whistleblower’s claims.

“In your confirmation hearing, you testified: ‘Child labor should not be accepted by anybody in America. The Department of Labor has the enforcement capability to double down if [companies] are knowingly breaking the law and exploiting children in their factories.’ I agree. We cannot allow children to continue to be exploited in the name of corporate profits. I therefore urge you to investigate all allegations regarding Tyson’s illicit child labor practices, including these new whistleblower allegations,” Josh Hawley wrote in his letter to the Labor Department.

Even more disturbing is Tyson’s reported response to the whistleblower who dared to speak out. After reporting the child labor violations internally, the employee faced targeted retaliation and a deliberately toxic work environment that ultimately forced their resignation. Compounding this apparent attempt to silence dissent, Tyson is now reportedly pursuing legal action against the whistleblower, adding another layer of intimidation to prevent others from coming forward with similar allegations.

American Workers Abandoned While Illegal Labor Thrives

Senator Hawley’s investigation has uncovered a particularly egregious contradiction in Tyson’s business practices. While the company allegedly employs illegal aliens and underage workers, it simultaneously closed eight meatpacking plants across Arkansas, Missouri, and Indiana in 2023. These closures resulted in more than 4,200 American workers losing their jobs, creating devastating economic impacts in multiple communities. This stark contrast between laying off legal American workers while possibly employing illegal labor has fueled Hawley’s determination to hold the company accountable.

“The Wage and Hour Division engaged in ongoing investigations of Tyson Foods and its contractors under the [Fair Labor Standards Act],” a Labor Department official confirmed.

During a recent Senate hearing, Hawley pressed Andrew Rogers, nominee for the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, about continuing these investigations. While Rogers stated he could not comment on specific ongoing investigations, he committed to examining allegations of child and illegal labor. Hawley has been consistently active in advocating against child exploitation and has introduced legislation to prevent federal contracts with companies that have histories of child labor abuses, demonstrating his commitment to protecting both American workers and vulnerable children from corporate exploitation.