U.S. Department of Labor sues Hyundai and its suppliers in Alabama over child employment allegations

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor wants a federal judge to block Hyundai and two other Alabama companies from engaging in what the government considers illegal child labor.

The complaint filed Thursday follows an investigation by the department's Wage and Hour Division that found a 13-year-old worked between 50 and 60 hours a week operating machines on an assembly line that transformed sheet metal into automobile body parts.

The defendants include Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama LLC, SMART Alabama LLC, and Best Practice Service, LLC. The lawsuit says it aims to end the use of child labor and require companies to give up profits from the alleged practice.

Hyundai said in a statement that it was cooperating fully with the Labor Ministry and that it was unfair to be held responsible for the practices of its suppliers.

“We are reviewing the new lawsuit and intend to vigorously defend the company,” the statement said.