A sweeping lawsuit has been filed in California against Hyundai and Kia. The nonprofit Jobs to Move America (JMA) accuses the automakers and affiliated companies of severe violations of U.S. labor law. According to JMA, supply chains in Alabama and Georgia involved child and forced labor—including workers from prison programs and vulnerable migrants—as well as hazardous conditions that led to injuries and deaths.

The filing seeks to suspend Hyundai and Kia sales in California and to require independent audits of all suppliers. Named defendants include Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, and logistics affiliate Glovis America. If the court takes the case forward, it could sharpen expectations for how rigorously carmakers must police sprawling supplier networks—a standard the market increasingly wants proven, not just promised.

The dispute intensified after a major ICE raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia, where violations had previously been identified. Some deported employees are only now returning to their jobs.

Hyundai characterizes the allegations as groundless and says it complies strictly with the law, while Kia maintains it works only with suppliers that meet all safety and labor requirements. Such assurances are expected in moments like this; the real measure will be any independent scrutiny.

JMA, which initiated the suit, is known for pushing transparency in public procurement and defending workers’ rights, and argues that automakers should be held to actual, not merely declarative, labor standards.