WARSAW -- A subcontractor working for Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg is facing $1.5 million in fines after the federal government determined it was employing children who were working overnight shifts, using hazardous chemicals, and cleaning brisket saws.

Maple Leaf is one of 13 plants in eight states where the violations were documented.

The investigation by the U.S. Labor Department shows that at least 102 children as young as 13 were part of an investigation against Packers Sanitation Services, a subcontractor, from Wisconsin.

According to an investigation, the Packers Sanitation Services was employing two children at the Maple Leaf plant and fined more than $30,000.

In a comment sent to News Now Warsaw, Maple Leaf Farms said it has been closely monitoring the investigation of Packers Sanitation Services and their response to ensure corrective action has been taken to address any potential gaps in their hiring practices and that they are adhering to their own zero-tolerance policy for underage employment.

Maple Leaf Farms complies with all aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other safety and labor regulations, and we expect all of our business partners to as well.

Other companies, including Tyson, JBS and Cargill Inc., were also found to be using employees with Packers Sanitation where instances of child labor violations were documented.

In some of those cases, the civil penalties against Packer Services were ten times larger.

To read the entire news release from the government, click here.

Maple Leaf Farm's entire comment can be seen below.

Maple Leaf Farms has been closely monitoring the Department of Labor (DOL) investigation and Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI) response to ensure corrective action has been taken to address any potential gaps in their hiring practices and that they are adhering to their own zero-tolerance policy for underage employment. Maple Leaf Farms complies with all aspects of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other safety and labor regulations, and we expect all of our business partners to as well.

Below is a breakdown of violations against Packers Sanitation Services, the locations, the number of children involved and the resulting fines.

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