According to a press release, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor has obtained a federal consent judgment that requires a Morristown, Tennessee manufacturer of outdoor power equipment components for major companies including John Deere, Toro and Yamaha to stop employing children illegally and to follow federal child labor laws in the future.
The judgment, which comes after the department’s Wage and Hour Division identified several children employed in dangerous jobs, includes a $296,951 civil money penalty. The employer must also set aside $1.5 million as disgorgement of 30 days’ profits related to its use of child labor. The proceeds paid by Tuff Torq will be used for the benefit of the children employed illegally.
Child labor regulations stipulate that dangerous jobs are prohibited for workers under age 18.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor press release, it was determined that Tuff Torq subjected 10 children to oppressive child labor.