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.