"Tennessee Factory Fined $1.5M for Employing Minors in Hazardous Machinery Operation"

Immigrant children as young as 14 were discovered working illegally at a Tennessee factory, Tuff Torq, which produces lawn mower parts for companies like John Deere. The company was fined nearly $300,000 and required to set aside $1.5 million to assist the children. The Labor Department emphasized that putting children in dangerous workplaces is illegal and comes with significant financial consequences. Tuff Torq's general counsel acknowledged the violations and stated that the child workers were temporary and not hired directly by the company. The Labor Department has prioritized child labor enforcement, with a 152% increase in illegally employed children since 2018.