Morristown company must turn over profits after breaking child labor laws, Dept. of Labor says

U.S. Department of Labor Obtains Consent Judgement Against Morristown Company for Employing Children

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a federal consent judgement against a Morristown company, requiring them to cease employing children and adhere to federal labor laws.

This judgement comes after the Department of Labor discovered that several children were employed in hazardous jobs at Tuff Torq, a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment components for major companies such as John Deere, Toro, and Yamaha.

In addition to the requirement to stop employing children, the judgement includes a $296,951 civil money penalty. Furthermore, the company has agreed to set aside $1.5 million as disgorgement of 30 days’ profits related to their use of child labor.

The funds paid by Tuff Torq will be utilized for the benefit of the illegally employed children, according to officials.

To date, the Department of Labor has identified 10 children who were subjected to “oppressive child labor” at Tuff Torq.

Investigators initiated a probe several months ago and obtained clear evidence of the unlawful conduct on January 23, 2024, when they witnessed a child operating a power-driven hoisting apparatus, an occupation prohibited for workers under the age of 18, at the Tuff Torq facility.

As a result, the department invoked the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) “hot goods” provision, which prohibits employers from shipping goods produced by oppressive child labor, and prevented the facility from shipping goods.

“Even one child working in a dangerous environment is too many,” stated Jessica Looman, the Wage and Hour Division Administrator of the Department of Labor. “Over the past year, we have witnessed an alarming increase in child labor violations that put children at risk. Through this agreement, we are ensuring that Tuff Torq takes immediate and significant measures to cease the illegal employment of children. When employers fail to fulfill their obligations, we will act swiftly to hold them accountable and protect children.”

Agreement Provisions

• Contract with a community-based organization to provide regular training to staff, managers, and contractors.
• Establish an anonymous tip line for reporting child labor and other suspected FLSA violations.
• Allow unannounced and warrantless searches of its facility for three years.
• Refrain from entering any new contracts with staffing agencies or other contractors with child labor violations and require contractors to disclose child labor violations and hiring protocols.

Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda stated, “This consent decree holds Tuff Torq accountable while also discouraging future violations, focusing on the supply chain, and striving to make the victims whole. The agreement reflects our longstanding message that the department will not tolerate companies profiting from the unlawful employment of children in dangerous occupations. Tuff Torq has agreed to disgorge profits, which will benefit the children. This sends a clear message: putting children in harm’s way in the workplace is not only illegal but also carries significant financial consequences.”

Copyright 2024 WVLT. All rights reserved.

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: Number of children engaged in hazardous work or child labor.

Analysis

The article addresses the issue of child labor and the violation of federal labor laws by Tuff Torq, a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment components. Based on the content of the article, the following SDGs, targets, and indicators can be identified:

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The issue of child labor and the violation of federal labor laws directly relates to SDG 8, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. Target 8.7 specifically focuses on eradicating forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking, and the worst forms of child labor.

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.

The article highlights the violation of child labor laws by Tuff Torq, which employed children in dangerous jobs. This violation directly relates to Target 8.7, as it involves the worst forms of child labor. Tuff Torq is required to stop employing children and follow federal labor laws as part of the consent judgement obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Indicator: Number of children engaged in hazardous work or child labor.

The article mentions that the Department of Labor determined Tuff Torq subjected 10 children to “oppressive child labor.” This indicates that there is a specific number of children engaged in hazardous work or child labor, which can serve as an indicator to measure progress towards eradicating the worst forms of child labor.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: wvlt.tv

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