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Migrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally in a Tennessee factory that supplies lawn mower parts to companies including John Deere.
The US Department of Labor has imposed a fine of nearly $300,000 on Tuff Torq after discovering the employment of ten underage workers in environments fraught with hazardous equipment. In addition to the financial penalty, a consent agreement necessitates Tuff Torq to allocate $1.5 million toward the welfare of these children. In a statement, the DOJ’s chief legal officer said, “The department will not tolerate companies profiting on the backs of children employed unlawfully in dangerous occupations.” She added, “This sends a clear message: putting children in harm’s way in the workplace is not only illegal, but also comes with significant financial consequences.”
In a statement, Ryan Pott, representing Tuff Torq’s parent company, Yanmar, confirmed the infractions. 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.”
This all comes after an investigation, which began in spring 2023, unveiled minors working under alarming conditions at Tuff Torq’s Morristown manufacturing plant. Despite the company not disclosing specific job roles, Labor official Juan Coria revealed that the investigative team was shocked to find young teens working alongside heavy machinery, particularly during late-night shifts in the round-the-clock facility.
The company has claimed that the children were “temporary workers” hired through a staffing agency that allegedly falsified documents. As part of its corrective measures, Tuff Torq must also now visibly warn against underage employment at all plant entrances.
