Child Labor Violations Uncovered at Iowa Meatpacking Plant, Company Fined $172,000
Federal investigators discovered 11 minors working dangerous overnight shifts with hazardous chemicals and equipment at a Sioux City pork facility. This marks the second child labor case this year at the same Seaboard plant, highlighting ongoing concerns about exploitation through third-party contractors.
Labor Department Proposes End to Subminimum Wage Program for Disabled Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor plans to eliminate the decades-old practice of paying workers with disabilities below federal minimum wage over a three-year period. The controversial proposal, affecting around 40,000 workers currently earning as little as cents per hour, faces mixed reactions from disability advocates and lawmakers.
America's Declining Food Production Raises National Security Concerns
U.S. fruit and vegetable production has plummeted over the past two decades, with fruit output down 36% since 2003. Rising costs, limited subsidies for small farmers, and policies favoring commodity crops are reshaping American agriculture and increasing dependence on imports.