Labor Department Sues Hyundai for Employing Child Worker

A 13-year-old girl allegedly worked for 50 to 60 hours a week at one of the company’s suppliers in Alabama.

Hyundai cars on the sales lot at San Leandro Hyundai in San Leandro, Calif., on May 30, 2023. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The U.S. Department of Labor is suing Hyundai and two other companies, alleging that the firms profited from “oppressive child labor.”

The lawsuit was filed on May 30 at the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Three defendants are cited in the complaint—Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, SMART Alabama, and Best Practice Service (BPS).