Slaughterhouse director investigated, fined after employing and assaulting minor

A director of a Georgian-based slaughterhouse has been fined and is being investigated by the Interior Ministry after the Labour Inspection Office revealed they had employed a minor in an adjacent farm, refused to pay the boy, and verbally and physically assaulted him.

The Office said on Friday the case of the employment of the 15-year-old had shown he had been forced to work at the farm next to the cattle slaughterhouse for five months.

Based on an interview with the minor, the state Office established that the deputy director of the company had “systematically” forced him to work on his farm adjacent to the establishment, with the labour involving cattle care without remuneration and threats.

State authorities also revealed the deputy director had verbally and physically abused the juvenile and dismissed him from work without compensation after the minor refused to continue the work. 

The Office has fined the slaughterhouse ₾10,000 ($3,459/€3,267) for the forced labour and violation of labour rights. It further noted the Interior Ministry of the country was investigating the case.