Recall Injustice Campaign Unveils Alarming Violations in Hyundai and Kia Supply Chain
On November 21, 2025, an influential coalition representing labor, environmental, faith, and community organizations unveiled the Recall Injustice campaign at the Los Angeles Auto Show, one of the premier automotive events in North America. The coalition aims to shine a light on serious labor and environmental violations that have been recorded in Hyundai and Kia's supply chain in the U.S. As part of this launch, the coalition presented a new investigative report, 'Hidden in Plain Sight: Safety, Labor, and Environmental Violations Driving Hyundai-Kia's Supply Chain,' produced by Jobs to Move America. This report reveals shocking evidence of child labor exploitation, preventable worker deaths, and environmental infractions present among suppliers associated with Hyundai and Kia.
The investigative efforts highlighted troubling findings, including the discovery of child labor—where children as young as 13 were reportedly employed illegally by nine suppliers in Alabama. Additionally, the report disclosed that over the past nine years, twelve workers have lost their lives while working for companies tied to Hyundai-Kia's U.S. supply chain, mainly due to inadequate safety protections in place.
An alarming statistic mentioned in the report indicates that Hyundai-Kia’s assembly plants have incurred more financial penalties for environmental violations than any other car manufacturing plants in Alabama and Georgia, totaling over $158 million since 2006. Such a hefty sum underscores the systemic issues within these companies, raising significant concerns regarding the severity of their environmental and labor practices.
Alongside these findings, the coalition advocates for workers who face extreme labor conditions, highlighting issues of coercive labor practices among Hyundai-Kia's suppliers, including the use of prison labor and neglected health and safety standards. These assertions have been validated through regulatory findings, comprehensive media investigations, and academic research from a Columbia Labor Lab study released earlier this month.
Following the press conference at the LA Auto Show, coalition members took an active role by delivering letters addressed to key officials at Hyundai and Kia. These letters were supported by signatures from 41 diverse groups across the nation, representing organizations such as the Alabama League of Women Voters, Georgia State Federation of Labor, as well as local community groups like Black Lives Matter Alabama and Conservation Alabama.
To further support their campaign, the newly launched Recall Injustice website, located at www.Recallinjustice.org, has been established to facilitate a more extensive public inquiry into these issues. The site includes a comprehensive database of public records amassed over two years, documenting various violations of health and safety as well as child labor laws within Hyundai-Kia’s supply chain.
The recall initiative not only seeks to rectify the injustices faced by workers and affected communities but also calls for significant corporate accountability and engagement with local populations. This coalition regards itself as a collective force for promoting environmental, racial, economic justice, and workplace democracy. They believe that large corporations can contribute positively to their surrounding communities if committed to ethical operations.
Jobs to Move America (JMA), the non-profit organization responsible for the investigative report, aims to build a fair economy by conducting rigorous research and influencing public policy on various economic sectors. JMA has received recognition for providing crucial insights into industries, especially those concerning sustainable practices, and hopes this report will prompt actionable reform in Hyundai and Kia’s operational transparency and labor practices.
As societal awareness of these significant issues grows, the Recall Injustice campaign is well-positioned to spark change within the automotive industry and beyond, urging organizations to take responsibility and ensure safer, more equitable labor conditions and environmental stewardship in their supply chains.
The investigative efforts highlighted troubling findings, including the discovery of child labor—where children as young as 13 were reportedly employed illegally by nine suppliers in Alabama. Additionally, the report disclosed that over the past nine years, twelve workers have lost their lives while working for companies tied to Hyundai-Kia's U.S. supply chain, mainly due to inadequate safety protections in place.
An alarming statistic mentioned in the report indicates that Hyundai-Kia’s assembly plants have incurred more financial penalties for environmental violations than any other car manufacturing plants in Alabama and Georgia, totaling over $158 million since 2006. Such a hefty sum underscores the systemic issues within these companies, raising significant concerns regarding the severity of their environmental and labor practices.
Alongside these findings, the coalition advocates for workers who face extreme labor conditions, highlighting issues of coercive labor practices among Hyundai-Kia's suppliers, including the use of prison labor and neglected health and safety standards. These assertions have been validated through regulatory findings, comprehensive media investigations, and academic research from a Columbia Labor Lab study released earlier this month.
Following the press conference at the LA Auto Show, coalition members took an active role by delivering letters addressed to key officials at Hyundai and Kia. These letters were supported by signatures from 41 diverse groups across the nation, representing organizations such as the Alabama League of Women Voters, Georgia State Federation of Labor, as well as local community groups like Black Lives Matter Alabama and Conservation Alabama.
To further support their campaign, the newly launched Recall Injustice website, located at www.Recallinjustice.org, has been established to facilitate a more extensive public inquiry into these issues. The site includes a comprehensive database of public records amassed over two years, documenting various violations of health and safety as well as child labor laws within Hyundai-Kia’s supply chain.
The recall initiative not only seeks to rectify the injustices faced by workers and affected communities but also calls for significant corporate accountability and engagement with local populations. This coalition regards itself as a collective force for promoting environmental, racial, economic justice, and workplace democracy. They believe that large corporations can contribute positively to their surrounding communities if committed to ethical operations.
Jobs to Move America (JMA), the non-profit organization responsible for the investigative report, aims to build a fair economy by conducting rigorous research and influencing public policy on various economic sectors. JMA has received recognition for providing crucial insights into industries, especially those concerning sustainable practices, and hopes this report will prompt actionable reform in Hyundai and Kia’s operational transparency and labor practices.
As societal awareness of these significant issues grows, the Recall Injustice campaign is well-positioned to spark change within the automotive industry and beyond, urging organizations to take responsibility and ensure safer, more equitable labor conditions and environmental stewardship in their supply chains.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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