Kentucky Warehouse Illegally Employed Children "for Months"

A warehouse and distribution center in Kentucky has been fined by the United States Department of Labor after it found that the facility had been employing two children "for months."

Employing Kids 11 and 13

According to a press release from the US Department of Labor, it was discovered in August 2023 that the Win.IT America Inc. warehouse and distribution center located in Hebron, Kentucky had been employing two children, ages 11 and 13. One of those children had even been operating a forklift, which is legally prohibited by anyone under the age of 18.

Penalties and Compliance Training

Win.IT America Inc. has since been ordered to come into compliance with federal child labor regulations. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has also ordered the company to pay $30,276 in penalties, in addition to being required to hire a third-party consultant for compliance training for management every six months for a period of three years.

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Specifically, the division found several violations by Win.IT America of child labor provisions in the Fair Labor Standards Act. These violations included employing one child to operate a forklift, a hazardous occupation for workers under 18 and tasking another child to pick orders in the warehouse, a prohibited occupation for workers under 16. In addition, the company employed both children for more hours than legally allowed and violated federal regulations that forbid employing workers under 14 years of age in non-agricultural occupations.

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Not the Only Ones

Win.IT America Inc. isn't the only US company to find itself in trouble with the U.S. Department of Labor for violating federal child labor laws. There were nearly 4,000 children found working across the country during the 2022 fiscal year.

Who is Win.IT America Inc.?

Win.IT America Inc. is the U.S. branch of China-based WinIT Information Technology Company. They employ more than 700 people in the United States, Great Britain, Germany, and Australia.

[Source: U.S. Department of Labor]

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