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A message from League of United Latin American Citizens
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View as web page:
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Photo Credit: U.S. Department of Labor
July 21, 2023
Contact: David Cruz - (818) 689-9991 Mobile
[email protected]
LULAC DEMANDS A U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEATH OF AN
IMMIGRANT MINOR IN MISSISSIPPI PLANT
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Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Opposes Efforts to
Induce Children Into Dangerous Jobs As Companies Work Around Safety Regulations
Washington, DC – LULAC stands united in grief and outrage over the tragic death
of Duvan Tomas Perez, a 16-year-old immigrant worker from Guatemala, who lost his
life while toiling under hazardous conditions at a poultry processing plant in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi. On behalf of the Latino community, we vehemently demand
that the U.S. Department of Labor thoroughly investigate this heartbreaking
incident and prosecute all individuals and entities responsible for this heinous
child labor exploitation.
"LULAC holds both companies responsible; the outside contractor who hired this
9th grader, and Mar-Jac Poultry in whose processing plant Duvan died because they
knew how dangerous these jobs are," said Domingo Garcia, LULAC National
President. "For several years, LULAC has advocated for reforms in the nation's
protein processing plants, including meat and chicken facilities. We have seen
some progress and commend the companies that are stepping up and assuming their
duty to ensure that no minors are employed in any capacity at their facilities,
whether direct or indirect workers. More needs to be done, and LULAC continues to
reach out to the country's food producers, offering to conduct community outreach
and education to improve safety practices and dissuade children from entering the
plants."
It is unconscionable that a 9th-grade child like Duvan was subjected to such
perilous and exploitative labor practices. Blaming an outside contracting company
for such practices is merely an attempt to evade accountability and hide behind
the veil of indirect workforce liability. Such corporate malfeasance must not be
tolerated under any circumstances.
Photo Credit: Producciones TV Catolica
LULAC has always been at the forefront of advocating for the rights and welfare
of immigrant workers. These vulnerable individuals have been subjected to
hazardous and exploitative conditions in various industries, including the
poultry processing sector, for far too long. We stand firm in our resolve to hold
accountable those responsible for such tragedies.
In light of recent revelations regarding a large food safety sanitation services
provider, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. LTD, employing minors in hazardous
occupations across multiple states, it is clear that child labor exploitation
remains a pervasive issue. The $1.5 million civil money penalties they faced are
a stark reminder that corporate greed should never come at the expense of
innocent lives.
"LULAC opposes efforts to relax child labor laws that companies desperate for
more workers are pushing for in several states. Latinos will not be the fodder
for injuries and deaths in industrial settings in the 21st century as we were in
times past. LULAC demands comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes the
solution is to acknowledge and allow adult immigrants to work legally and safely
in the United States, in the open and transparently, not being slipped in under
the radar and with deadly consequences," added Garcia.
# # #
About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and
oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans
and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1,000
councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and
advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of
today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org [ [link removed] ] .
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