On May 30, 2024, the US Department of Labor (DOL) filed a complaint in the Middle District of Alabama against a US subsidiary of Korean carmaker Hyundai seeking to hold Hyundai liable for child labor violations alleged to have occurred at a Hyundai supplier’s facilities in Alabama. BackgroundDOL’s complaint comes amid escalating enforcement efforts related to child labor in US supply chains. These auto parts were allegedly shipped by the supplier to a Hyundai facility where they were incorporated into Hyundai vehicles. TakeawaysDOL’s complaint appears to reflect an initiative to grapple with widespread child labor concerns by pursuing the manufacturing industry’s “gatekeepers” for child labor violations even if they occur at their suppliers and through temporary employees provided by staffing agencies. Combined with the national attention on child labor issues, we expect child labor investigations and enforcement activity to increase.

Source: New York Times June 05, 2024 18:07 UTC