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Report from Reuters claims Smart Alabama LLC, a metal stamping manufacturer and subsidiary of Hyundai, has used child labor in its factories. The claims are allegedly backed by current and former employees of the company, as well as the parents of the three children involved and local police.
Reuters realized the possibility of underage workers in February when a 13-year-old Guatemalan migrant girl briefly disappeared from her home in Enterprise, Alabama. In an interview with the family, it was revealed that he and his two brothers, aged 12 and 15, worked at the factory in early 2022. Company police alerted the Alabama attorney general’s office about the situation, although it is not clear if an official investigation is ongoing. Located approximately 50 miles from the Smart Alabama facility, Company police have no jurisdiction to conduct investigations into labor law violations.
Interviews with current and former Smart Alabama LLC employees revealed as many as 50 underage workers were in the factory on various shifts, according to Reuters. Alabama’s labor laws require factory workers to be at least 18 years old. There is no mention of wages in the report.
Smart Alabama LLC manufactures parts used at Hyundai’s large factory near Montgomery. Elantra, Santa Fe, Tucson, and Santa Cruz assembly facilities. Hyundai lists the company as a majority-owned unit in the company’s filing.
Motor1.com contacted Hyundai regarding this situation. A company spokesperson gave the following statement:
“Hyundai does not tolerate illegal employment practices at any Hyundai entity. We have policies and procedures that require compliance with all local, state and federal laws.”
Attempts to contact officials at Smart Alabama LLC by phone and email were unsuccessful. In a statement reported by Reuters, Smart Alabama LLC “denies allegations that they knowingly employ anyone who is not qualified for the job.”
This is not the only problem regarding the potential for illegal labor in the company. A lawsuits registered on ClassAction.org filed on March 27 accusing Smart Alabama LLC of defrauding the US immigration system for years, hiring Mexican workers for substandard wages and discriminating against them versus American employees.
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