Berrien, Cass, Kent, Newaygo, Ottawa, Oceana, Muskegon and Van Buren, Michigan, United States
The U.S. Department of Labor levied fines totaling more than $36,000 against eight growers in Michigan for violations of migrant housing and child labor laws — including an allegation of a 6-year-old picking blueberries — and retailers have already discontinued doing business with some of the companies. Two blueberry growers, Adkin Blue Ribbon Packing Co., South Haven, and Jawor Bros., Ravenna, were assessed penalties of $2,584 for child labor violations after the investigation allegedly found children under 12, including a six-year-old, picking in the fields.
Location
United States · Berrien, Cass, Kent, Newaygo, Ottawa, Oceana, Muskegon and Van Buren, Michigan · 2009 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
James Smith, district director of the department’s Wage and Hour Division in Detroit, called the violations “intolerable and disappointing
Tony Marr, general manager for Adkin Blue Ribbon, said his company is investigating what happened. He said the company has strict policies in place with regard to labor laws, and it’s trying to figure out where and how they broke down.
link to articles on this case:http://thepacker.com/Department-of-Labor-levies-fines-for-child-labor-violations/Article.aspx?articleid=930942&authorid=342&feedid=215&src=recent and:http://www.freep.com/article/20091101/NEWS06/911010490/1001/News/Michigan-brief-Blueberry-buys-stopped-after-child-labor-probe
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