Hawley demands answers on child labor from Tyson CEO after damning NY Times report

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), in a letter to Tyson Foods Inc. demanded answers after a report published by The New York Times detailed the company’s dangerous, illegal child labor practices. 

“I am alarmed by new reports that Tyson Foods has actively participated in dangerous and illegal child labor practices,” Hawley wrote to Tyson CEO Donnie King. 

The Times report outlined dangerous work environments at Tyson’s poultry plants. Employees have had factory machinery cut into their arms, broken bones and even died while on shifts, Hawley wrote.

The employees are often children who have been subcontracted to Tyson and may work full time. Many of the young workers are also migrants who entered the U.S. on their own to escape poverty in Central America, according to The Times.

It is against federal law for children to clean slaughterhouses because of the risk of injury. The law also prohibits 14- and 15-year-olds from working at night or for more than three hours on days that they have school. 

“Tyson has stated that the company has ‘no tolerance for child labor,’ but The Times report suggests otherwise,” Haley wrote. “In light of the facts, you owe the American people an explanation as to Tyson’s child-labor practices.”

The Missouri senator’s letter presented King with a series of questions that Hawley asked to be answered by the end of the week.

His inquiries include whether the food produced by the company is in full cooperation with the Department of Labor and what changes the company will make following the report’s release. Hawley also asked whether the company will commit to an independent audit, among others. 

Tyson has “major locations” in 25 states, including seven in Missouri. Last Friday, the senator spoke with King following the company’s announcement that it would close its southern Missouri locations. 

“I spoke with the CEO of Tyson Food today,” Hawley posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He told me, first, Tyson is willing to sell its facilities in Dexter and Noel, Missouri to any interested party — including a competitor.”