Samsung: investigation shows abuses at Chinese suppliers

Samsung has announced that an independent investigation into working conditions at its Chinese suppliers has revealed various abuses. For example, there is often more overtime than legally permitted and dangerous situations have been found.

Samsung has had research conducted at a hundred suppliers from China, about half of the total number of companies from that country that work for Samsung, reports AP news agency. The investigation shows that 59 Chinese suppliers do not distribute goggles, masks or other protective equipment to their employees, although they are required to do so. Young employees between the ages of 16 and 18 had to work with dangerous chemicals at 48 companies, while that is not allowed either.

Another pain point is that in almost all companies surveyed, overtime is worked for longer than is legally permitted. This problem is common among Chinese companies. In addition, insufficient evacuation drills were held at forty companies and part-timers would not be compensated for overtime at 39 companies.

Samsung has started to pay more attention to the working conditions at its suppliers when China Labor Watch accused the company HEG Electronics, a company that produces telephone and DVD players for Samsung, among other things, of child labor. Samsung’s own investigation would have shown that no evidence had been found for child labour, but that various other abuses had been found. The Chinese government also investigated the allegations and came to a similar conclusion as Samsung.