USA: Migrant children as young as 14 working for Tennessee factory Tuff Torq, supplying to John Deere among other companies; incl. co comment
Summary
Date Reported: 26 Mar 2024
Location: United States of America
Companies
Tuff Torq - Employer , John Deere (Deere & Co) - ClientAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Manufacturing: General , Gender not reported , Unknown migration status )Issues
Child labour , Occupational Health & SafetyResponse
Response sought: Yes, by Journalist
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: Ryan Pott, general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese firm Yanmar, acknowledged the violations to NBC News. He said, “Tuff Torq is dedicated to ensuring that their products and services are produced under ethical conditions, with a strong emphasis on fair labor practices, and Tuff Torq is further strengthening our relevant training and compliance programs...we are also actively engaging with our suppliers to reinforce our expectations regarding ethical labor practices and collaborate with them on implementing our updated policies.” The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. As part of a consent agreement with the federal government, the company is also required to set aside $1.5 million to help the children who were illegally employed. Tuff Torq is “transitioning” away from doing business with the staffing company.
Source type: News outlet
“Kids as young as 14 were found working at a Tennessee factory that makes lawn mower parts for John Deere and others”
Immigrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally amid dangerous heavy equipment at a Tennessee firm that makes parts for lawn mowers sold by John Deere and other companies, according to Labor Department officials.
The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. As part of a consent agreement with the federal government, the company is also required to set aside $1.5 million to help the children who were illegally employed. Ryan Pott, general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese firm Yanmar, acknowledged the violations to NBC News…
The Labor Department did not specify what work the children were doing. But Labor official Juan Coria said what his investigative team found in Tuff Torq’s “very busy” Morristown manufacturing plant was “astonishing.”
…investigators who witnessed children as young as 14 working late at night at the 24-hour manufacturing facility amid power-driven equipment…
…the general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, said the child workers were temporary and were not hired directly by Tuff Torq. …said Tuff Torq is “transitioning” away from doing business with the staffing company…
John Deere did not respond to a request for comment…