Hyundai subsidiary used child labor

Hyundai Motor Co's subsidiary used child labor at a plant that supplies parts for an assembly plant

A Korean automaker's assembly line in nearby Montgomery, Alabama, according to local police, is the family of three underage workers, as well as eight former and current employees of the plant.

According to these people, underage workers,who in some cases were only 12 years old, most recently worked in a metal stamping plant operated by SMART Alabama LLC. SMART, listed by Hyundai in corporate filings as a controlling unit, supplies parts for some of the cars and SUVs assembled by the automaker in Montgomery, its flagship US assembly plant.

Hyundai said it "does not tolerate illegal employment practices at any Hyundai facility."The company did not respond to detailed questions from Reuters about the results of the audit.

SMART said in a separate statement that it follows federal, state and local laws and "deniesany allegation that she knowingly hired anyone who does not haveThe company said it relies on temporary employment agencies to fill vacancies and expects that "these agencies willfollow the law in the selection, hiring and placement of employees on the company's premises."

Reuters found out about the minorsworkers at a Hyundai-owned facility after a Guatemalan migrant child briefly disappeared from his family's home in Alabama in February.