TIME

Mexican Authorities Discover 63 Children Working in Terrible Conditons

The children, ages 8 to 17, were reportedly working 15 hour days

Mexican authorities have discovered 63 children toiling under horrible conditions at a vegetable packing company.

Dozens of children were found working for about 100 pesos, or $6, per day with only a half day off per week, the Associated Press reports. The children were living on mats only steps from where they are suspected to have worked 15 hour days. The ages of the children ranged from eight to 17.

Authorities have moved the children and some adults found working with them to a shelter. Their conditions were reportedly discovered when the father of a young girl attempted to pick up his daughter from the company but was prevented from doing so because she hadn’t completed her tasks.

Mexican law allows for children between 14 and 16 to work, although generally not in agriculture. However, the AP reports child labor is common in the country.

[Associated Press]

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