Labor Department officials have revealed that immigrant children, some as young as 14, were discovered working unlawfully in hazardous conditions at a Tennessee-based company, Tuff Torq, known for manufacturing parts for lawn mowers retailed by John Deere among other brands. The firm faced a fine of nearly $300,000 for employing 10 underage workers. Additionally, as part of a consent agreement with the federal government, Tuff Torq is mandated to allocate $1.5 million to support the children who were illegally hired. Ryan Pott, the general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese company Yanmar, admitted to these violations in a statement to NBC News.
Seema Nanda, the chief legal officer of the department, emphasized the government’s stance against companies exploiting children in perilous jobs. She stated that Tuff Torq’s agreement to return profits, which will benefit the affected children, sends a strong message against endangering children in the workplace, highlighting the severe financial repercussions of such illegal actions.
The specific tasks assigned to the children were not disclosed by the Labor Department. However, Juan Coria, a southeast regional administrator for the department’s Wage and Hour Division, described his team’s findings at Tuff Torq’s bustling Morristown manufacturing plant as “astonishing.” He recounted the anxiety experienced by investigators upon seeing children as young as 14 working late hours amidst heavy, power-driven machinery being maneuvered within the facility.
Pott clarified that the child workers were temporary and had not been directly hired by Tuff Torq. He explained that these individuals secured employment through a temporary staffing agency using false names and credentials. He also mentioned that Tuff Torq is in the process of ceasing its business relations with the staffing agency.
Pott further stated Tuff Torq’s commitment to ethical production and fair labor practices. He highlighted the company’s efforts to enhance its training and compliance programs and its active engagement with suppliers to ensure adherence to ethical labor standards.
The Labor Department has instructed Tuff Torq to install signs at every plant entrance, clearly stating that individuals must be at least 18 years old to enter and work at the facility. Nanda pointed out that such agreements serve as a reminder to companies and their entire network of suppliers and contractors to uphold labor standards.
John Deere has not issued a comment regarding the situation.
The investigation into Tuff Torq commenced in the spring of 2023, with officials visiting the site multiple times. The reasons initiating the investigation were not disclosed by the officials.
This case emerges as part of the Labor Department’s intensified efforts to combat child labor, following a 152% surge in the number of children found illegally employed since 2018.