Hyundai: Investigation underway into illegal child labor in Alabama

Hyundai Motor Co, South Korea’s biggest automaker, is investigating possible violations of child labor laws in its U.S. supply chain and plans to “sever ties” with suppliers in Alabama found to be basing their production on minors, Jose Muñoz, responsible for the operation of the car industry’s factories worldwide, told Reuters.

A Reuters investigation in July found children, including one as young as 12, working at a Hyundai-controlled metal parts plant in rural Luverne, Alabama.

After the Reuters report, the state Department of Labor in Alabama, in cooperation with federal agencies, launched an investigation into this facility and another, where it found children as young as 13 working.

Munoth said Hyundai intends to “sever relations” with the two factories under investigation, with action taken as soon as possible.

Additionally, Munioth indicated that he has ordered a broad investigation of Hyundai’s entire U.S. supplier network into possible violations of labor laws, but “to ensure that it is enforced.”

Munoth’s statements are Hyundai’s most substantial admission to date regarding child labor violations in its U.S. supply chain. It is a network of dozens of mostly Korean-owned companies that supply Hyundai’s large manufacturing facility in Montgomery, Alabama.

As reported by Reuters, children of Guatemalan immigrants were found to be working at SMART Alabama, LLC and SL Alabama, while they were selected and recruited by labor recruitment companies operating in the region. In a statement to Reuters last week, Hyundai said it had already terminated its partnership with at least one manpower firm that had been recruiting on SMART’s behalf.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.