Firm that hired kids to clean meat plants keeps losing work

By JOSH FUNK
AP Business Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The slaughterhouse cleaning company that was found to be employing more than 100 children to help sanitize dangerous razor-sharp cutting equipment has continued to lose contracts with the major meat producers since the investigation became public last fall. For its part, PSSI said it has taken a number of steps to tighten up its hiring practices but it says the rising number of child labor cases nationwide is likely related to the increase in the number of minors crossing the U.S. border alone in recent years. Federal officials have said they are concerned about the potential exploitation of migrants and they have urged the entire meat processing industry to make sure children aren’t being hired.