Duvan Tomas Perez, a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy, is involved in a poultry plant accident. This took place in Mississippi at the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg and reports to be an on-the-job accident. This incident has fortunately put light on the various number of child labor violations that exist across the country.
About six years ago, Duvan Tomas Perez arrived in the United States. He originated from the town of Huispache and decided to immigrate to Mississippi. He was a middle school student at N.R. Burger Middle School in Hattiesburg. According to his obituary, he loved listening to music, spending tie with his family, and going to the gym. One of his most significant accomplishments is when he bought his own car.
Equipment at the plant is what caused the death of Perez, officials say. He was said to be cleaning a machine at the Mar-Jac Poultry processing plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Secondly, his body ended up getting trapped under a conveyer belt.
Lisa Klem, a Forrest County deputy coroner, states that the incident happened the night of July 14, at around 8 p.m occasionally. A worker on duty at the time then states that they heard the boys scream for help. Once they arrived at the scene, it was unfortunately too late.
Mississippi Child Labor Laws
The Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity is a Jackson-based nonprofit organization. In a statement, they say, “Our hearts are heavy with grief for the loss of this young Latino worker. Our Latinx and Indigenous families come here to the United States looking for a better life for ourselves and our children.”
Workers under the age of 18 are not to work in poultry plants due to the fact of how dangerous these work conditions are. Hiring an underage worker to work in these dangerous conditions automatically violates child labor laws.
A report released details the concern about the 11 states in the U.S. hiring underaged migrants to work in meatpacking and produce firms.
Before this incident occurred, the Biden administration had already been analyzing violations in child labor, and what involved migrants specifically.
According to data that came from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Pérez’s death marks the third time Mar-Jac Poultry’s Hattiesburg plant of putting its employees in danger.
Two weeks before Pérez’s death, another 16-year-old boy died after a workplace-related incident. This incident happened at the Wisconsin sawmill and has raised attention and concerns about the use of child labor.
Other Accidents in The Workplace
Republican lawmakers promote bills and laws that relax child protection laws, which is a problem. There is an increase in cases that involve migrant children working in dangerous conditions.
In contrast to these child protection laws, there are several states that passed laws supporting companies to make it easier for them to put children in the workforce. These states include Arkansas, Iowa, and Ohio. Selective states pass laws and bills that support the proposal for the expansion of work hours and the types of jobs that minors can get.
The Mar-Jac Poultry Plant respond to the death of young Perez: “Mar-Jac never knowingly put any employee, and certainly not a minor, in harm’s way but it appear, at this point in the investigation, that this individual’s age and identity is misrepresented on the paperwork.” They clarify that a more inclusive and thorough audit is due to be conducted from now on to ensure an error like this doesn’t happen again.
Written by Makayla Grison
Sources:
NBC News: 16-year-old boy dies in accident at a Mississippi poultry plant
The New York Times: Death of 16-Year-Old at Mississippi Poultry Plant Prompts Federal Investigation
The Washington Post: A 16-year old-worker died at a poultry plant. Federal probes are underway.
Hattiesburg American: More details, identity released in fatal Mar-Jac Poultry Plant accident
WDAM7: Employee dies after accident at Hattiesburg poultry plant
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of astrid westvang Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image by Jay Baker at Annapolis, MD Courtesy of Neal Wellons’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
