A Kentucky distribution center has been hit with a hefty $30,000 fine after it was discovered that they had illegally employed two children, one of whom was operating a forklift. Win.IT America Inc.'s warehouse in Hebron, located about 20 miles west of Cincinnati, Ohio, was found to have employed an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old at its distribution center for an extended period of time, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division uncovered the child labor violations in August. The investigation revealed that one of the employed children was operating a forklift, a hazardous role that is strictly prohibited for workers under the age of 18. Additionally, the other child was responsible for picking up orders in the warehouse, a task that is not allowed for workers under the age of 16. Moreover, the children were found to be working more hours than legally permitted, and the company had violated federal regulations by employing workers under the age of 14 in non-agricultural occupations.

To address these serious violations, a federal consent judgment was obtained on September 8. This judgment requires the operator of the Hebron warehouse to cease employing children and serves as a warning against any future violations of federal child labor laws. The court also ordered Win.IT America to pay $30,276 in civil money penalties. Additionally, the company is now required to hire a third-party consultant who will provide "semi-annual compliance training for all management personnel for a period of three years."

Win.IT America, founded in 2013, is the U.S. branch of Win.IT Information Technology Co., which is based in Shanghai, China. The parent company is an integrated supply chain solutions provider with over 700 employees spread across the United States, Australia, Germany, and Great Britain.

Efforts to obtain a comment from Win.IT America were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. This incident comes as part of a broader crackdown on child labor violations in the U.S. The Wage and Hour Division's Regional Administrator, Juan Coria, based in Atlanta, highlighted the concerning increase in these violations. In the fiscal year of 2022, the U.S. Department of Labor uncovered nearly 4,000 child labor violations nationwide, marking an alarming increase of more than 60% over the past five years.

This case adds to the growing trend of employers illegally hiring children, often exposing them to dangerous working conditions. According to U.S. investigators, the number of children being hired for illegal work is on the rise. In July, federal regulators reported finding approximately 4,500 children who were working in violation of federal child labor laws over a ten-month period, representing a 44% increase from the previous year.

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is determined to combat this concerning surge in child labor violations in the United States. Regional Administrator Juan Coria emphasized the responsibility of employers to ensure they are not illegally employing children, stating that swift action will be taken to hold them accountable and protect the nation's youth.

It is worth noting that the Department of Labor had previously cited Win.IT America for systemic overtime violations in the summer, stating that the company owed over $1 million in back wages to almost 1,000 workers in California and Kentucky, including the Hebron facility.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of upholding child labor laws and the responsibility of employers to prioritize the safety and welfare of young workers. The U.S. Department of Labor will continue its efforts to enforce these regulations and crack down on any violations, ensuring the protection of children in the workforce.