Thanks for clarifying. There’s no possible way a few 12 year old’s are clocking in at the local automobile assembly plant and not getting turned in.
However, there are countless small suppliers who have a dozen employees making small parts for cars. These could easily employ child labor.
When I was 12, I began working at the glass shop my dad owned. I guess it was child labor. It also taught me skills I use today. Just recently I had to cut and seam a piece of glass for a project at work. I guarantee that none of my co-workers have any clue how to do that.
Do a google on that phrase and see how many news outlets are using it. They're all quoting each other without citing the original source for that information.