A Hyundai subsidiary has used child labor at a factory in Alabama, United States. “Consumers should be outraged,” said David Michaels, former US Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
“You should know that these cars are built, at least in part, by workers who are children and should go to school, rather than risk life and limb because their families are desperate for income,” he added. The underage workers recently worked at a Smart Alabama LLC metal stamping plant, police said. Earlier this year, a girl, who turns 14 this month, and her two brothers, ages 12 and 15, worked at the factory. All three did not go to school, say people familiar with their profession. Her father confirmed the statements of these people in an interview with Reuters.
Smart is listed in Hyundai’s company records as a controlling interest. It supplies parts for cars and SUVs needed by the automaker in Montgomery, the main assembly plant in the US. In a statement sent after Reuters first released the investigation on Friday, Hyundai said it “does not condone illegal employment practices at any Hyundai entity. We have policies and procedures that require compliance with all local, state and federal laws.” .” The company did not answer detailed questions from Reuters about the incidents.
Company blames employment agencies
Smart said in a separate statement that it complies with federal, state and local laws and “denies any claim that it knowingly employs persons who are ineligible for employment.” The company says it depends on employment agencies to fill vacancies. It expects “these agencies to obey the law when recruiting, hiring and placing employees on its premises”.
The children, who are enrolled for the upcoming school year, are among a larger group of underage employees who have found employment with the Hyundai supplier in recent years, according to interviews with a dozen former and current factory employees and recruitment agencies.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
