Meat and Poultry Industry Best Practices: Workforce Age Verification
Meat Institute
A practical industry guidance document developed by the Meat Institute to help meat and poultry companies strengthen workforce age verification, prevent child labor, address identity fraud, and establish effective workforce eligibility practices.
Executive summary
The Meat and Poultry Industry Best Practices: Workforce Age Verification provides a framework for meat and poultry companies seeking to strengthen their workforce eligibility and age verification programs.
The guidance emphasizes that children under 18 should not work in meat or poultry packing and processing facilities and encourages companies to establish clear policies prohibiting child labor throughout their operations, including through third-party contractors.
The document was developed through collaboration between the Meat Institute and its member companies following industry education on child trafficking, identity fraud, and challenges associated with verifying worker eligibility. The guidance was also shared with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Labor.