Hyundai, South Korea¡¯s top automaker, is investigating child labor violations in its U.S. supply chain and plans to ¡°sever ties¡± with Hyundai suppliers in Alabama found to have relied on underage workers, the company¡¯s global Chief Operating Officer Jose Munoz said on Wednesday.
An investigative report in July documented children, including a 12-year-old, working at a Hyundai-controlled metal stamping plant in rural Luverne, Alabama, called SMART Alabama.
Following the report, Alabama¡¯s state Department of Labor, in coordination with federal agencies, began investigating SMART Alabama. Authorities subsequently launched a child labor probe at another of Hyundai¡¯s regional supplier plants, South Korean-operated SL Alabama, finding children as young as age 13.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.