Meat and poultry processing industry

Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights law

The Minnesota Packinghouse Workers Bill of Rights states employers in the meatpacking or poultry processing industry must:

• furnish its employees with equipment to safely perform their jobs under occupational safety and health standards; and

• at the start of employment, provide an explanation in an employee's native language about the employee's rights and duties as an employee both  in person and  through written materials that include a description of the:

  • employee's salary and benefits plans,

  • employee's job position,

  • company's leave policies,

  • company's work hours and work-hour policy,

  • occupational hazards known to exist for the position; and

  • workers’ compensation insurance coverage, including the name of the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier, the carrier’s phone number and the insurance policy number. 

The explanation must also include information about the following employee rights as protected by state or federal law and a description of where additional information about those rights may be obtained:

1. the right to organize and bargain collectively and refrain from organizing and bargaining collectively;

2. the right to a safe workplace; 

3. the right to be free from discrimination; and

4. the right to workers’ compensation insurance coverage.

DLI can issue fines and employees can file a lawsuit to address violations of this law.

DLI has created a sample explanation form that employers may use. Employers can contact DLI at the contact information below to request the form be translated into additional languages.

Recruitment in Food Processing law

The Recruitment in Food Processing law requires employers in the food-processing industry to provide written disclosure to people who are recruited to move to Minnesota or within Minnesota to work in food-processing plants. The disclosure must include the terms and conditions of employment and be provided in English and Spanish or English and another language if the person's preferred language is not English or Spanish.  The required terms and conditions include, but are not limited to:

• the nature of the work to be performed;

• the wage rate and nature and amount of deductions;

• the anticipated hours of work per week and whether this varies more than 25%;

• anticipated slowdowns or shutdowns;

• the duration of work;

• workers’ compensation coverage information;

• employee benefits;

• transportation and relocation arrangements and costs; and

• availability and description of housing and costs.

DLI can issue fines and employees can file a lawsuit to address violations of this law.

DLI has created a sample disclosure form that employers may use. Employers can contact DLI at the contact information below to request the form be translated into additional languages.

Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act

The Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act provides protections for meat-processing workers, including employees, independent contractors and persons hired through a temporary service or staffing agency, and corresponding responsibilities for meat-processing employers. Meat-processing workers are those who, while doing work for a meat-processing employer:  work directly in contact with raw meatpacking products in a meatpacking operation; inspect or package meatpacking products; or clean, maintain or sanitize equipment or surfaces.

• Learn more about the Safe Workplaces for Meat and Poultry Processing Workers Act.

For more information, questions, and to request trainings or presentations

Contact DLI’s workers’ rights coordinator, Emmanuel Martinez-Cruz, at emmanuel.martinez-cruz@state.mn.us or 651-284-5005.