The U.S. is suing Hyundai as well as two other companies for using child labor. The government alleges a 13-year-old was working up to 60 hours per week building body panels at a supplier for Hyundai. While Hyundai doesn’t appear to have been directly involved, they owned a majority stake in the supplier and had significant sway over it. The U.S. Department of Labor has sued three companies, including Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, to prevent them from “employing children illegally.
As we work to stop illegal child labor where we find it, we also continue to ensure that all employers are held accountable for violating the law.” Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda doubled down on that by saying, “Companies cannot escape liability by blaming suppliers or staffing companies for child labor violations when they are in fact also employers themselves.” That's a not so subtle nod to Hyundai’s position.