The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. It must also set aside $1.5 million to help the immigrant minors who were illegally employed.

The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. It must also set aside $1.5 million to help the immigrant minors who were illegally employed.

Immigrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally amid dangerous heavy equipment at a Tennessee firm that makes parts for lawn mowers sold by John Deere and other companies, according to Labor Department officials.

The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. As part of a consent agreement with the federal government, the company is also required to set aside $1.5 million to help the children who were illegally employed. Ryan Pott, general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese firm Yanmar, acknowledged the violations to NBC News.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      1·
      8 months ago

      Google tells me:

      Tuff Torq has 513 employees, and the revenue per employee ratio is $311,891. Tuff Torq peak revenue was $160.0M in 2023.

      They were fined $300,000. So less than one employees’ worth of revenue.

      Cost of doing business, as usual.

      • jordanlund@lemmy.world
        1·
        8 months ago

        Fined $300K, but also have to give up $1.5M in profit for the 10 kids. $150,000 per kid, or, you know, 1/2 of the revenue they generated. ;)

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          1·
          8 months ago

          Well I’m sure a company with ethics, like John Deere probably, will stop doing business with Tuff Torq now. Definitely.

          • jordanlund@lemmy.world
            1·
            8 months ago

            No, they’ll just re-negotiate their contract to get a better deal causing Tuff Torque to treat their remaining employees worse.