Samsung suspends link with manufacturer over child labour find

14 Jul 2014

Samsung has suspended all links with one producer of its devices after it was found the third-party company had allegedly been using child labour in its factories.

The company’s decision to react by ending all business relations with Shinyang Electronics, based in China, after a report was released documenting how the company employed several underage workers 11 hours a day, seven days a week with no overtime pay, according to CNet.

Aside from employing children to work, the company was also found to be totally disregarding when it comes to the well-being of the rest of its employees with poor standards in living conditions, almost no safety requirements and over-working.

In their statement on the decision to end connections with the Chinese manufacturer, Samsung said: “It is unfortunate that the allegation surfaced despite Samsung’s efforts to prevent child labor at its suppliers. As part of its pledge against child labor, Samsung routinely conducts inspections to monitor its suppliers in China to ensure they follow the commitment, and has provided necessary support.”

The South Korean tech giants have been criticised in the past for what watchdogs have said are other examples of abuse against its third-party manufacturers including last year when the Brazilian government sued the company over accusations that they had broken labour laws in the South American country.

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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