Grand Rapids Reporter

Grand Rapids-based Forge Industrial Staffing said in a statement that "recent media coverage" of the company is "irresponsible and reckless." According to the business, allegations of child labor, originally published in a 2023 New York Times (NYT) article are "unsubstantiated" by state and federal investigations and that with "no evidence of wrongdoing" the Department of Labor (DOL) continues to pursue its investigation of the company.

“Relying on unverified claims from a New York Times article published a year ago as the basis for ongoing reporting on this issue is irresponsible and reckless. Despite thorough investigations by state and federal agencies, the New York Times allegations against Forge not only remain unsubstantiated, but the multiple government investigations have found no evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever on the part of Forge. Forge takes this issue very seriously, and expects reporting to be based on facts, not unreliable conjecture," the statement reads. 

A February 8 MLive article about the DOL's investigation of Forge cited unproven claims and allegations made against the company in a NYT article that originally sparked the investigation of the staffing firm. According to MLive, the DOL said Forge “seeks to control, delay, and hinder the Acting Secretary’s investigation” by opposing the Department’s demand for confidential client information. 

The announcement by Forge also addresses the DOL's orders to disclose the identities of its 600+ clients in Michigan and Indiana in order for the department to conduct on-site interviews with workers. Forge has complied with the investigation, which hasn't produced any evidence of wrongdoing, and will “continue to protect [its] privacy and that of [its] customers from government overreach."

"(T)he Department thinks it will be easier if it can show up at Forge's customer locations, announce that it is investigating child labor violations involving Forge employees, and interview workers," lawyers for Forge wrote.

According to court documents, Forge has worked with the DOL to provide alternative methods to acquire the requested data. Communications between Forge and the DOL show that the Department initially agreed, and reached a resolution regarding its demand for additional information, only to abruptly withdraw from the agreement days later.

Records also show that Forge adheres to child labor regulations through its strict verification processes, internal audits, and cooperation with state and federal investigations.

Legal Newsline reported that the DOL's ongoing investigation has already cost Forge at least 17 clients, nearly half of its revenue, and has led to layoffs as the company struggles to break even.

Forge Industrial Staffing was established in 1995 to connect businesses with temporary and contract workers. According to its website, the company operates in Michigan and Indiana and has never faced a formal claim of child labor law violations in its 28-year history.