A Rio Grande Valley citrus company is paying up $11,000 dollars after a federal investigation revealed that they had young children working in the fields.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported that Rio Queen Citrus of Mission agreed to pay the civil penalties.
Federal investigators discovered that the company had children as young as 6 and 10 years old working in the fields going back to 2010.
“This company has a history of employing minors,” said Cynthia Watson with the Department of Labor in Dallas. “Protecting and keeping our youngest workers safe is one of the department’s top priorities.”
According to the Department of Labor, Rio Queen Citrus agreed to training in labor laws and posting child labor signs.
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