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
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        7 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
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          7 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
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            7 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
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              7 months ago

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