A major rail car manufacturer in Springfield, Mass., says a federal holdup that paused production and led to furloughs has ended.
CRRC MA, a Chinese-owned company operating in East Springfield, announced Wednesday that U.S. authorities have released car shells that had previously been "held at port."
Shell imports had been frozen for the past year, paused as U.S. Customs officials attempted to verify whether the train parts were products of slave labor, potentially violating the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
Due to the nearly yearlong pause, CRRC MA previously announced as many as 140 workers would be furloughed as production slowed.
The company now says business operations will "gradually resume" at the facility, with "a goal to recall affected employees from furlough" to continue work on MBTA and Los Angeles METRO cars.