Federal court prohibits Hebron distribution center from ‘oppressively’ violating child labor laws by employing children illegally

HEBRON, KY – U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Federal Consent Judgment to Stop Illegal Employment of Children

The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent judgment that requires the operator of a Hebron warehouse and distribution center to stop employing children illegally and to not violate federal child labor laws in the future.

Entered in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky on Sept. 8, 2023, the action addressed Win.IT America Inc.’s illegal employment of children, which investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division discovered in August 2023. Investigators determined that the company employed two children — ages 11 and 13 — for months at its distribution center.

Child Labor Violations and Penalties

1. The division found several violations by Win.IT America of child labor provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act:
• Employing one child to operate a forklift, a hazardous occupation for workers under 18.
• Tasking another child to pick orders in the warehouse, a prohibited occupation for workers under 16.
• Employing both children for more hours than legally allowed.
• Violating federal regulations that forbid employing workers under 14 years of age in non-agricultural occupations.
2. The court required Win.IT America to pay $30,276 in civil money penalties.

Compliance Training and SDGs

• The court also required Win.IT America to hire a third-party consultant to provide semi-annual compliance training for all management personnel for a period of three years.
• This judgment aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, specifically:
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

“Businesses must comply with the federal child labor regulations,” explained Regional Solicitor Tremelle Howard in Atlanta. “Federal law ensures young workers can benefit by gaining valuable work experience without endangering their safety or hampering their education.”

In fiscal year 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor found child labor violations involving 3,876 children nationwide, an increase of more than 60 percent over the past five years. The department addressed those violations, assessing employers over $4.3 million in civil money penalties.

“When we find child labor violations, the Department of Labor will not hesitate to use all enforcement tools available to compel compliance, including stopping the shipment of goods created and produced while the business was breaking the law to do so,” Howard added.

“The Wage and Hour Division is committed to combating the alarming increase in child labor violations in the U.S.,” said Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Juan Coria in Atlanta. “Employers are responsible for taking all appropriate actions to verify that they are not illegally employing children. When they fail to meet these obligations, we will act swiftly to hold them accountable and protect our nation’s youth.”

Founded in October 2013, Win.IT America Inc. is the U.S. branch of WinIT Information Technology Co., a Shanghai, China-based integrated supply chain solutions provider with more than 700 employees in the U.S., Australia, Germany, and Great Britain.

Department of Labor Initiatives

• The Department of Labor’s YouthRules! initiative promotes positive and safe work experiences for teens by providing information about protections for young workers to youth, parents, employers, and educators.
• The Wage and Hour Division has published Seven Child Labor Best Practices for Employers to help employers comply with the law.

The Wage and Hour Division offers confidential compliance assistance to anyone – regardless of where they are from – with questions about how to comply with the law by calling the agency’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). The department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.

Learn more about Wage and Hour Division.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
   • Indicator 8.7.1: Proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group (relevant for target 8.7)

2. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.
   • Indicator 4.4.1: Proportion of youth and adults with information and communications technology (ICT) skills, by type of skill (relevant for target 4.4)

Analysis

The article addresses the issue of illegal child labor and violations of child labor laws. This is connected to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all. Specifically, Target 8.7 focuses on eradicating forced labor, ending modern slavery and human trafficking, and eliminating the worst forms of child labor.

The article mentions that the U.S. Department of Labor obtained a federal consent judgment requiring the operator of a warehouse and distribution center to stop employing children illegally and to not violate federal child labor laws in the future. This action directly aligns with Target 8.7, as it aims to eliminate the worst forms of child labor.

The article also mentions that the company employed two children, ages 11 and 13, for months at its distribution center. This information can be used as an indicator (Indicator 8.7.1) to measure the proportion and number of children aged 5-17 years engaged in child labor, by sex and age group.

In addition, the article indirectly relates to SDG 4: Quality Education. Target 4.4 aims to increase the number of youth and adults with relevant skills for employment and entrepreneurship. While the article does not explicitly mention education, it highlights the importance of protecting young workers’ safety and education. By eliminating child labor, children can have the opportunity to receive quality education and develop relevant skills for future employment.

Based on the information provided in the article, no specific indicators related to SDG 4 are mentioned or implied.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: dol.gov

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