Hyundai says it has ‘no evidence’ of child labour at Alabama unit

Hyundai Motor Co. said it’s unaware of any evidence of child labor being used at its Alabama parts subsidiary.

Smart Alabama LLC, a wholly owned unit of the Korean automaker, employed immigrant workers as young as 12, Reuters reported Friday, citing family members of three underage workers, police, and former and current employees of the factory.

Hyundai “is unaware of any evidence of the allegations,” spokeswoman Dana White said.

The Smart facility supplies parts to Hyundai’s assembly plant in Montgomery, Alabama, which produces the Santa Fe and Tucson compact SUVs and Elantra sedan.

Smart denied it “knowingly employed” anyone ineligible for employment and said it relies on temporary work agencies to fill jobs and “follow the law in recruiting, hiring, and placing workers on its premises,” general manager Gary Sport said in a statement.

Hyundai “does not tolerate illegal employment practices in any Hyundai entity” and requires compliance with all local, state and federal laws, the company said in an emailed response to questions from Bloomberg News.

Police in Enterprise, Alabama, home of some of the alleged child workers, and the Alabama Attorney General’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment.

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