SEOUL: Samsung Electronics said Monday that a probe of its suppliers in China
had found no evidence of alleged child labour, but did uncover some
"inadequate" employment practices that needed to be remedied.
The South Korean technology giant
inspected 105 Chinese partners in September following a report by China Labor
Watch that at least one supplier was employing children under the age of 16.
The US-based watchdog said staff
at some plants were forced to work up to five times the legal overtime limit
and denied basic labour rights.
Samsung said its investigators
had reviewed employment records at all 105 suppliers and conducted face-to-face
ID checks, but "did not identify any instance of child labour".
However, they did find
"several instances of inadequate practices" including excessive
overtime and a system of fines imposed for lateness or absenteeism.
"We have identified the need
for initiatives to reduce employee overtime as a top priority, and we are
researching and developing measures that will eliminate hours beyond legal
limits by the end of 2014," Samsung said in a statement.
Samsung said it would finish
reviewing 144 additional suppliers by the end of this year.
From 2013, working conditions at
all 249 suppliers in China would be monitored by a third party audit programme,
it added, vowing to terminate contracts with any found to be using child
labour.
All suppliers have been told to
correct irregularities in labour contracts, and to provide adequate safety
equipment and sufficient safety training, the statement said.
Managers will receive additional
training on sexual harassment and physical and verbal abuse, while hotlines are
being established for workers to report any inhumane treatment or labour
violation, Samsung said.
- AFP/ck
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