To me, it sounds like your quote is simply saying that the companies were legally obligated to pay the travel expenses for returning the kids to their families.

To me, it sounds like your quote is simply saying that the companies were legally obligated to pay the travel expenses for returning the kids to their families. Perhaps I'm missing something. I hope that the kids are being cared for after they go home, but my understanding from reading the article was that it was just a requirement Apple imposed on it's business partners. If Apple terminates the contract, why would the companies still have to pay the children's salaries?