The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Packers Sanitation Services $1.5 million for employing 102 children as young as 13

The U.S. Department of Labor has fined Packers Sanitation Services $1.5 million for employing 102 children as young as 13.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the department fined the company $15,138 for each minor illegally employed.

Overall, the company paid $1.5 million in civil penalties for the employment of 102 children in 13 facilities across Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas.

"Our investigation found Packers Sanitation Services' systems flagged some young workers as minors, but the company ignored the flags," said Wage and Hour Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri in Chicago.

"The child labor violations in this case were systemic and reached across eight states, and clearly indicate a corporate-wide failure by Packers Sanitation Services at all levels," Principal Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division Jessica Looman said in a statement. "These children should never have been employed in meat packing plants and this can only happen when employers do not take responsibility to prevent child labor violations from occurring in the first place."

Apparently they were using hazardous chemicals and equipment such back saws, brisket saws, and head splitters -- often on overnight shifts.